Exploring the Concept of Food Insecurity and Family Hunger in Senegal, West Africa

Abstract

Using a previously validated instrument, surveys were conducted by researchers in a Senegalese village to elicit data on childhood food insecurity and health outcomes. Fifty-four participants were interviewed and completed the Community Childhood Hunger Identification Project (CCHIP) survey. More than half of the adults experienced hypertension or diabetes and also reported childhood food insecurity. The role of food coping strategies and social support were identified as factors that minimized the burden of food insecurity. Further testing with instruments that include analysis of cyclic food access patterns is warranted to best determine how to combat both food insecurity and noncommunicable chronic disease incidence in Senegalese families.