How much does a livelihood intervention lower the risk of food insecurity?
Food insecurity means households often do not have enough food to last 30 days or lack the money to buy more 12. While general surveys show high rates of this problem among low-income families in the US, specific interventions can lower the risk. A study in Kenya found that a multisectoral agricultural program significantly reduced food insecurity for adolescent girls and their caregivers.
What the research says
At the end of the trial, the data showed that adolescents in the intervention households had much less food insecurity than those in the control group 3. The statistical analysis found that the intervention lowered the risk of food insecurity by 55%, with an odds ratio of 0.45 3. This means the likelihood of experiencing food insecurity was less than half in the households that received the livelihood support compared to the control group 3.
What to ask your doctor
- Are there local agricultural or livelihood programs available in my community that could help reduce food insecurity?
- Could a household-level intervention be appropriate for my family to address both food security and mental health?
- What specific factors in my household contribute to food insecurity that a program might target?
This question is drawn from common patient questions about Primary Care & Family Medicine and answered using cited medical research. We do not provide individualized advice.