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Factors influencing low-income households’ food insecurity in Bangladesh during the COVID-19 lockdown

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  • Suvasish Das Shuvo
  • Md Sakhawot Hossain
  • Md Riazuddin
  • Sanaullah Mazumdar
  • Deepa Roy

Abstract

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic and countrywide lockdown could negatively impact household food insecurity among low-income households. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of household food insecurity and its influencing factors among low-income people in Bangladesh during the lockdown of COVID-19. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted through face-to-face interviews from 500 low-income households during the countrywide COVID-19 lockdown. A pretested, structured and validated questionnaire was used to collect socioeconomic characteristics, household income conditions, and food accessibility. Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS) and Dietary Diversity Score (DDS) were used to measure food insecurity. Multinomial logistic regression models were estimated to evaluate and predict risk factors that influence food insecurity. Results: The study found that above 67% of households was mild-to-moderate food insecure while 23% experienced severe food insecurity. Significantly, 88%, 97.4%, and 93.4% of the households had anxiety and uncertainty, inadequate quality, and inadequate quantity of food, respectively. The regression analysis revealed the age 36–50 years (RRR: 4.86; 95% CI: 2.31–7.44, RRR: 4.16; 95% CI: 2.25–6.10) and monthly income

Suggested Citation

  • Suvasish Das Shuvo & Md Sakhawot Hossain & Md Riazuddin & Sanaullah Mazumdar & Deepa Roy, 2022. "Factors influencing low-income households’ food insecurity in Bangladesh during the COVID-19 lockdown," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 17(5), pages 1-20, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0267488
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0267488
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    References listed on IDEAS

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