A Comparison of Food Insecurity Among Two Communities, Family Types and Genders During the COVID-19 Pandemic in the Oforikrom Municipality, Ashanti Region of Ghana

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to compare food insecurity among two different communities (Ayeduase and Kotei), family types and genders over a six months period during the COVID-19 pandemic at Oforikrom Municipality, Ashanti Region of Ghana. METHODS: A Longitudinal study was conducted using a semi-structured questionnaire and a two-stage sampling technique among 160 respondents. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of food insecurity was 49.4%, 29.4% and 21.2% for mild, moderate and severe food insecurity respectively at baseline. Severe food insecurity was higher among respondents in the Kotei community (22%) than those in the Ayeduase community (20%) at baseline, whiles at end-line, severe food insecurity among respondents in the Ayeduase community was higher (11.2%) than Kotei (8.7%). There was a significant association between respondents in Kotei and Ayeduase (p < 0.0001). The prevalence of severe food insecurity at baseline and end-line was higher in women (37.5%) than in men (24.6%) (p < 0.0001) Also, there was a negative correlation (B = −2.26, 95% CI: −3.67, −0.86) between respondents who had some level of tertiary education at baseline and food insecurity (p = 0.002). Respondents with no level of formal education were significantly associated and negatively correlated with food insecurity at baseline (p = 0.005) (B = −2.39, 95% CI: −0.04, −0.74) and at end-line, there was a positive correlation (B = 0.58, 95% CI: 0.19, −2.97) [p = 0.003] between respondents with no level of formal education and food insecurity. Easy access to water at baseline and end-line were also significantly associated with food insecurity (p = 0.015) and (p = 0.045) respectively. CONCLUSIONS: COVID-19 has not only affected fragile livelihoods but has also had a huge effect on food security among families with women being mostly affected during the pandemic than men. FUNDING SOURCES: It was funded by Rahel Nyarko-Morrison.