O-5 The double burden of COVID-19 and a natural disaster on food production and security in a Small Island Developing State
Author(s):
E Augustus, M M Murphy, C Guell, K Morrissey, D Ramdath, S G Anderson, N Unwin
Country(ies) Of Focus:
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Year of Presentation:
2023
Objective: To assess the impact of the concurrent COVID19 pandemic and volcanic eruption on food production and security in St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG).
Methods: An interpretive mixed-methods sub-study was conducted among a convenience sample of consenting adults ≥18 years from 100 households in SVG through a cross-sectional survey and participant interviews (10 households) between September 2021 and March 2022. Food insecurity prevalence over the past year was assessed using the Food Insecurity Scale (Rasch modelling) and impacts to livelihoods from the pandemic and volcanic eruption was assessed using an adapted COVID-19 FS&L Survey. Data were described using univariate, bivariate and multivariable analysis and qualitative data was used for contextual insight.
Results: There was a total of 177 participants (64% female; household size of >4 members (62%); 50-64 years (31%); completed primary-school (47%); responsible for foodpreparation(53%)). During the pandemic, participants reported decreased income (59%), no access to markets (63%) or food aid (81%); change in food sources (34%) including decrease in food production and impact to foodproduction by volcanic-eruptions (81%). Almost half were severely food insecure (48%); almost two thirds were moderately to severely food insecure (64%). After adjusting for gender, age, education, and household size moderate to severe food insecurity was associated with no access to food aid during the pandemic and post-eruptions (OR 3.7 (1.51, 9.07) p=0.004).
Conclusion: Food insecurity rates were high during the COVID-19 pandemic, exacerbated by volcanic-eruptions and insufficient access to food aid. Further qualitative analyses will examine mitigation strategies used by the participants.