1
|
Mbhenyane XG, Tambe AB. The Influence of Household and Community Food Environments on Food Insecurity in Limpopo Province, South Africa. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2024; 21:125. [PMID: 38397616 PMCID: PMC11326480 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph21020125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2023] [Revised: 01/15/2024] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024]
Abstract
Insufficient access to enough quality food remains a public health challenge in South Africa. This study aimed to report the influence of community and the household environment, food system inventories, and food procurement on household food security. The findings alluded that food insecurity is prevalent among the rural areas in South Africa. Large household sizes and a limited access to and use of water and food storage facilities for food preservation are the major household determinants. A multi-sectoral nutrition-planning approach that accelerates the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals should be reinforced. We recommend the promotion of food production for consumption in rural communities.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xikombiso Gertrude Mbhenyane
- Division of Human Nutrition, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town 8000, South Africa
| | - Ayuk Betrand Tambe
- Division of Human Nutrition, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town 8000, South Africa
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Hoteit M, Khadra R, Fadlallah Z, Mourad Y, Chahine M, Skaiki F, Al Manasfi E, Chahine A, Poh OBJ, Tzenios N. Prevalence and Time Trends of Low Serum B12 Levels and Inadequate B12 Dietary Intake in Lebanese Adults amidst the Food Insecurity Situation: Findings from a Nationally Representative Cross-Sectional Study. Nutrients 2024; 16:226. [PMID: 38257119 PMCID: PMC10818865 DOI: 10.3390/nu16020226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2023] [Revised: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Rising food insecurity (FI) and the increased prices of animal-based foods could compromise vitamin B12 (B12) intake and serum levels in food-insecure people. Our study aims to determine the prevalence of low levels of serum B12 and its inadequate dietary intake among a nationally representative sample of Lebanese adults aged 18 to 64 years, while exploring the impact of FI and identifying other potential predictors. The B12 intake was assessed using a food frequency questionnaire and the mean of two non-consecutive 24 h recalls. The B12 serum levels were also examined. To examine the time trends in the B12 serum levels and dietary intake, the data from a large representative digitized database of 6290 participants were collected, along with the examination of FAOSTAT food consumption data both before and during the economic crisis period. Our findings revealed that 47.3% of households in Lebanon experienced FI. The inadequate intake of B12 food sources was prevalent in 52.5% of participants, and 61.1% presented with low (23%) or intermediate (38.1%) levels of serum B12. The food-secure households had a higher proportion of B12 intake from meats (p = 0.004), while traditional foods contributed more to food-insecure households (p = 0.000). The participants who were female, unemployed, food-insecure, and had low dietary diversity were about two to three times more likely to have inadequate B12 intake. The predictors of low levels of serum B12 included residing in Beqaa (OR = 2.856 and 95% CI = 1.018-8.01) and having inadequate B12 intake (OR = 1.788 and 95% CI = 1.2-2.65). The findings from observing the time trends in the consumption and the serum levels of B12 indicate a considerable decline in the consumption of most animal-based foods compared to the pre-crisis period, associated with a decline in the serum levels of B12. In conclusion, an alarming prevalence of low dietary intake and low serum levels of B12 was revealed among Lebanese adults, and the indirect effect of FI on B12 serum levels mediated through B12 intake was inferred.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maha Hoteit
- Food Sciences Unit, National Council for Scientific Research-Lebanon (CNRS-L), Beirut P.O. Box 11-8281, Lebanon (Z.F.)
- Faculty of Public Health, Section 1, Lebanese University, Beirut P.O. Box 6573, Lebanon
| | - Razan Khadra
- Food Sciences Unit, National Council for Scientific Research-Lebanon (CNRS-L), Beirut P.O. Box 11-8281, Lebanon (Z.F.)
| | - Zahraa Fadlallah
- Food Sciences Unit, National Council for Scientific Research-Lebanon (CNRS-L), Beirut P.O. Box 11-8281, Lebanon (Z.F.)
| | - Youmna Mourad
- Al Hadi Laboratory and IVF Center, Beirut 1103, Lebanon;
| | - Mohamad Chahine
- Biological and Chemical Technology, Kursk State Medical University, 305000 Kursk, Russia;
| | - Farouk Skaiki
- Department of Molecular Biology, General Management, Al Karim Medical Laboratories, Saida 1600, Lebanon;
| | | | | | | | - Nikolaos Tzenios
- Faculty of Public Health, Charisma University, London EC1V 7QE, UK
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Militao EMA, Uthman OA, Salvador EM, Vinberg S, Macassa G. Food Insecurity and Associated Factors among Households in Maputo City. Nutrients 2023; 15:nu15102372. [PMID: 37242255 DOI: 10.3390/nu15102372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2023] [Revised: 05/17/2023] [Accepted: 05/18/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Food insecurity (FI) is a global concern and is one of the main causes of malnutrition in low- and middle-income countries. In Mozambique, the burden of FI and how various factors contribute to FI is not well known. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of FI and its associated factors in southern Mozambique. Data from 1842 household heads in Maputo City were analyzed in a cross-sectional design. Food insecurity was measured using a modified version of the US Department of Agriculture Household Food Security scale, and its association with socio-demographic factors was assessed through multiple regressions. Altogether, 79% of the households were food insecure; of these, 16.6% had mild FI, 28.1% moderate and 34.4% severe FI. The study revealed that low-income households, those with less educated heads, and those engaged in informal work were significantly more prone to FI. Likewise, dietary diversity and the number of meals were also significant predictors of FI. These findings suggest the need for decent work and job creation, which calls for joint efforts from government, the private sector, and international institutions. Furthermore, these key drivers should be considered in the development of public health policies and programs designed to alleviate household FI and malnutrition in Mozambique.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Elias M A Militao
- Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Humanities, Mid Sweden University, Holmgatan 10, 851 70 Sundsvall, Sweden
- Department of Public Health and Sports Science, Faculty of Occupational and Health Sciences, University of Gävle, Kungsbacksvägen 47, 801 76 Gävle, Sweden
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Eduardo Mondlane University, 3453 Julius Nyerere Avenue, Maputo 257, Mozambique
| | - Olalekan A Uthman
- Warwick Centre for Global Health, Division of Health Sciences, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK
- Department of Global Health, Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Francie van Zijl Drive, Cape Town 7505, South Africa
| | - Elsa M Salvador
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Eduardo Mondlane University, 3453 Julius Nyerere Avenue, Maputo 257, Mozambique
| | - Stig Vinberg
- Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Humanities, Mid Sweden University, Holmgatan 10, 851 70 Sundsvall, Sweden
| | - Gloria Macassa
- Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Humanities, Mid Sweden University, Holmgatan 10, 851 70 Sundsvall, Sweden
- Department of Public Health and Sports Science, Faculty of Occupational and Health Sciences, University of Gävle, Kungsbacksvägen 47, 801 76 Gävle, Sweden
- EPI Unit-Instituto de Saúde Pública, Universidade do Porto, Rua das Taipas 135, 4050-600 Porto, Portugal
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Al-Saidi M. Caught off guard and beaten: The Ukraine war and food security in the Middle East. Front Nutr 2023; 10:983346. [PMID: 36895270 PMCID: PMC9989265 DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2023.983346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2022] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 02/23/2023] Open
Abstract
The Ukraine war has led to a severe global food crisis due to complex supply disruptions and price increases of agricultural inputs. Countries of the Middle East have been directly affected because of their high dependence on food imports from Russia and Ukraine. Furthermore, this food crisis comes at times of high baseline vulnerability due to the compound impacts of COVID-19, repeated food shocks, and weakened states due to political-economic difficulties. This paper provides a detailed analysis of the food-related vulnerability of Middle Eastern countries in the wake of the Ukraine war. It contextualizes the varying impacts of this crisis in the region, and highlights country-level response strategies. The analysis shows a concerning and deepened crisis in the case of highly exposed and politically fragile countries with weakened food sectors; e.g., Lebanon, Sudan, and Yemen. Political-economic instabilities, limited domestic agriculture, and the lack of reliable grain reserves have aggravated the current food crisis in some countries. At the same time, indigenous short-term responses related to regional aid and cooperation have emerged, particularly in the Gulf countries, which have witnessed soaring revenues from higher energy prices. Alongside more regional frameworks for collaboration on food security, future action to mitigate such food crises should include the strengthening of local sustainable agriculture, storage capacities, and grain procurement strategies from international suppliers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Al-Saidi
- Department of International Affairs and Center for Sustainable Development, College of Arts and Sciences, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Deliver Smart, Not More! Building Economically Sustainable Competitiveness on the Ground of High Agri-Food Trade Specialization in the EU. Foods 2023; 12:foods12020232. [PMID: 36673324 PMCID: PMC9857410 DOI: 10.3390/foods12020232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2022] [Revised: 12/29/2022] [Accepted: 12/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Competitiveness has always been a multifaceted illusive concept, which has made it a real challenge for scholars and practitioners to find the most suitable measurement tools to completely encapsulate all the complex nuances of competitiveness. This becomes even more of a challenge when approached in relation to particular economic sectors. The agri-food sector is no exception, especially when considering all its interconnections with the other sectors: water, energy, transport, waste. All of them impact the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Similarly, scholars have been debating the meaning of sustainability for decades, some even arguing that it is a political, subjective, and, in some cases, self-contradictory concept. As far as the sustainability of agricultural competitiveness is concerned, the literature is still developing. It is much more focused on fostering environmental competitiveness, and less attention was paid to the strategies designed to capitalize on sustainable economic competitiveness-a concept that has attracted divergent opinions in the literature, mainly due to ambiguity. Thus, instead of falling into the pitfall of vagueness, this paper was aimed at bringing its contribution to this field by undertaking the research objective of exploring a single facet of sustainable agricultural competitiveness: the economic facet. Hence, this paper proposes the construction of the sustainable economic competitiveness index (SECI) with direct application for agri-food value chains. It consists of three attributes: (a) factor endowments, resource independence; (b) agricultural chain performance; and (c) national agricultural chain strategies and policies. In this study, SECI was tested against the cereal chain for a selection of EU countries, based on the data taken over from FAOSTAT and INTRACEN Trade Map, in the case of the 2011-2020 period. Various statistical and econometric methods were used to test the robustness of SECI. Results stand as proof that building sustainable agricultural economic competitiveness relies on a mix of strategic actions. The key vector in this mix is that trade flow patterns and policies must be calibrated in accordance with national factor endowments in order to achieve high levels of SECI. To add more managerial implications, this paper argues for the smart delivery of agri-food products with high added value instead of focusing on exporting big volumes of raw agricultural materials with little added value.
Collapse
|
6
|
Hoteit M, Mohsen H, Hanna-Wakim L, Sacre Y. Parent's food literacy and adolescents nutrition literacy influence household's food security and adolescent's malnutrition and anemia: Findings from a national representative cross sectional study. Front Nutr 2022; 9:1053552. [PMID: 36643976 PMCID: PMC9837989 DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2022.1053552] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2022] [Accepted: 12/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Food and nutrition literacy are widely fundamental to improve the food security and reduce the double burden of malnutrition and iron deficiency in low- and middle-income countries. Objectives This study aimed (1) to assess the nutrition literacy (NL) of Lebanese adolescents and their parents' food literacy (FL), (2) to investigate the impacts of adolescents' NL and parental FL on (a) the household food security, (b) the adolescents' self-reported food security, and (c) the adolescents' nutrition status with a focus on malnutrition and anemia. Methods A national representative sample of 450 parent-adolescent dyads [parents: mean age ± standard deviation (SD) = 46.0 ± 7.0, mothers: 59.0%; adolescents: mean age ± SD = 15.0 ± 3.0, girls: 54.6%] were interviewed. Anthropometric and blood hemoglobin measurements were performed for adolescents. The Arab Family Food Security Scale and the Adolescent-Level Food Security Scale were used. Results Around 45.0% of the adolescents were nutritionally illiterate, and nearly half (47.8%) of parents had poor FL. Around 68.2 and 54.0% of the households and adolescents were food insecure, respectively. Moreover, 6.7, 4.7, 32.2, and 16.7% of the adolescents were stunted, thin, overweight/obese, and anemic, respectively. Poor parental FL increased the risk of household food insecurity (FI) by 2.7 times, p < 0.001. Adolescents' nutrition illiteracy increased their FI risk by 60.0% (p = 0.02). The number of offspring, household income, crowding status, and participants' residence also influenced the percentage of FI and malnutrition prevalence among households and adolescents. Conclusion Improvements in FL and NL are promising to mitigate FI malnutrition in Lebanon.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maha Hoteit
- Faculty of Public Health, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon,Faculty of Public Health, PHENOL Research Group (Public HEalth Nutrition prOgram Lebanon), Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon,Lebanese University Nutrition Surveillance Center (LUNSC), Lebanese Food Drugs and Chemical Administrations, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon,University Medical Center, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon,*Correspondence: Maha Hoteit,
| | - Hala Mohsen
- Faculty of Public Health, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Lara Hanna-Wakim
- Department of Agricultural and Food Engineering, School of Engineering, Holy Spirit University of Kaslik (USEK), Jounieh, Lebanon
| | - Yonna Sacre
- Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Holy Spirit University of Kaslik (USEK), Jounieh, Lebanon
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Hoteit M, Yaghi J, El Khoury A, Daou R, Hindieh P, Assaf JC, Al Dawi J, El Khoury J, Al Jawaldeh A. Prevalence and Antibiotic Resistance of Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli Isolated from Bovine Raw Milk in Lebanon: A study on Antibiotic Usage, Antibiotic Residues, and Assessment of Human Health Risk Using the One Health Approach. Antibiotics (Basel) 2022; 11:antibiotics11121815. [PMID: 36551472 PMCID: PMC9774154 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics11121815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2022] [Revised: 11/21/2022] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The emergence, persistence, and spread of antibiotic-resistant microbes is a tremendous public health threat that is considered nowadays a critical One Health issue. In Lebanon, the consumption of raw bovine milk has been recently reported as a result of the financial crisis. The objectives of the current study were (1) to evaluate raw bovine milk samples in a comprehensive manner for the types of antibiotics used and their residues, (2) to determine the presence of mesophilic bacteria, extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), and (3) to determine the associated human health risk caused by drinking raw milk with antibiotic residues among all age categories. LC-MS-MS was used to carry out the analysis. From 200 milk samples, 30 (15%) were found contaminated with four major antibiotics. The highest average concentration detected was for oxytetracyline 31.51 ± 13.23 μg/kg, followed by 5.5 ± 0.55 μg/kg for gentamicin, 4.56 ± 0.73 μg/kg for colistin, and 4.44 ± 0.89 μg/kg for tylosin. The mean contamination among most samples was below the maximum residue limits (MRLs). Upon comparison with the acceptable daily intake (ADI), the estimated daily intake (EDI) across all age groups was acceptable. The hazard quotient (HQ) was also below 1 across all age groups, signifying the absence of associated health risks for the Lebanese consumers. On the other hand, all milk samples were found exceeding the maximum tolerable value of mesophilic flora. Antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) were detected and represented by ESBL-producing E. coli and MRSA isolates. Thus, the greatest threat of antibiotic use in Lebanon does not fall under antibiotic residues but rather the proliferation of antibiotic resistance in potentially pathogenic bacteria. In this study, the virulence profile of detected bacteria was not investigated; thus their pathogenicity remains unknown. Therefore, to mitigate this health threat in Lebanon, a "One Health" action plan against ABR is required. It will provide a framework for continued, more extensive action to reduce the emergence and spread of ABR in Lebanon.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maha Hoteit
- Faculty of Public Health, Lebanese University, Beirut P.O. Box 6573, Lebanon
- PHENOL Research Group (Public HEalth Nutrition Program Lebanon), Faculty of Public Health, Lebanese University, Beirut P.O. Box 6573, Lebanon
- Lebanese University Nutrition Surveillance Center (LUNSC), Lebanese Food Drugs and Chemical Administrations, Lebanese University, Beirut P.O. Box 6573, Lebanon
- Lebanese University Medical Center, Lebanese University, Beirut P.O. Box 6573, Lebanon
| | - Joseph Yaghi
- Laboratoire de Mycologie et Sécurité des Aliments (LMSA), Faculty des Sciences, University Saint-Joseph de Beyrouth, Campus des Sciences et Technologies, Mar Roukos, Matn, Beirut P.O. Box 6573, Lebanon
| | - Andre El Khoury
- Laboratoire de Mycologie et Sécurité des Aliments (LMSA), Faculty des Sciences, University Saint-Joseph de Beyrouth, Campus des Sciences et Technologies, Mar Roukos, Matn, Beirut P.O. Box 6573, Lebanon
- Correspondence: (A.E.K.); (A.A.J.)
| | - Rouaa Daou
- Laboratoire de Mycologie et Sécurité des Aliments (LMSA), Faculty des Sciences, University Saint-Joseph de Beyrouth, Campus des Sciences et Technologies, Mar Roukos, Matn, Beirut P.O. Box 6573, Lebanon
| | - Pamela Hindieh
- Laboratoire de Mycologie et Sécurité des Aliments (LMSA), Faculty des Sciences, University Saint-Joseph de Beyrouth, Campus des Sciences et Technologies, Mar Roukos, Matn, Beirut P.O. Box 6573, Lebanon
| | - Jean Claude Assaf
- Laboratoire de Mycologie et Sécurité des Aliments (LMSA), Faculty des Sciences, University Saint-Joseph de Beyrouth, Campus des Sciences et Technologies, Mar Roukos, Matn, Beirut P.O. Box 6573, Lebanon
| | - Jana Al Dawi
- Faculty of Public Health, Lebanese University, Beirut P.O. Box 6573, Lebanon
| | - Jennifer El Khoury
- Faculty of Public Health, Lebanese University, Beirut P.O. Box 6573, Lebanon
| | - Ayoub Al Jawaldeh
- World Health Organization Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean, Cairo 11371, Egypt
- Correspondence: (A.E.K.); (A.A.J.)
| |
Collapse
|