Food insecurity among working poor and their coping strategies in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania.
Loading...
Date
2024
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Social Work Journal
Abstract
Food insecurity is one of the contemporary global challenges as a large number of people in the
world have inadequate access to sufficient and quality food. The objectives of the paper are as
follows: to assess the status of food insecurity among working poor class members in Dar es
Salaam, examine their coping strategies, and determine the association between the status of
food insecurity and coping strategies. The study used a cross-sectional research design. A
structured questionnaire and Focus Group Discussions (FDGs) were used to collect data from
336 respondents. Chi-square was used to determine the association between the status of food
insecurity of the working poor and their coping strategies in Dar es Salaam. The findings show
that the working poor mainly relied on loans from friends and relatives and participating in
Rotating Savings and Credits Associations (ROSCAs) as coping strategies. Furthermore, less
than 20% of the working poor households experienced food insecurity. Coping strategies such as
changing the place of residence, receiving financial assistance from friends and relatives, and
participating in ROSCAs were significantly associated with food insecurity status of the working
poor. It is concluded that food insecurity among the working poor is a relatively invisible aspect.
Being a worker with a monthly wage does not prevent the working poor from falling into the
food-insecure population category. It is recommended that the information on the association
between the status of food insecurity and the coping strategies used by the working poor should
be considered in the amendments of policies such as the Food Insecurity Policy for them to be
efficient.
Description
Research article
Keywords
Associations, Coping strategies, Food insecurity, Working Poor