The dynamics of food accessibility and diversity in IDP camps in South Sudan

Abstract

The Dynamics of Food Accessibility and Diversity in IDP Camps in South Sudan: A case study of Malakal and Melut IDP camps of Upper Nile state. Existing Literature suggests that there is evidence of high malnutrition cases recorded among the IDPs, despite efforts by the government and relief agencies to intervene with resilient and food security programmes such as direct food distribution, cash and voucher, and other livelihood programmes. This forms the basis on which this study was carried out to i) assess the determinants of food consumption choices, ii) expose the consequences of inadequate food consumption and identify possible strategies to reduce the consequences in IDP camps of South Sudan. This study employed a mixed method design to address different evaluation questions and information needs. Both qualitative and quantitative approaches were used focusing on both primary and secondary data collection techniques. The secondary data was captured through a systematic desk review of key documents including existing relevant reports, and publications, while primary data was collected from IDPs and relief workers working in the IDP camps of South Sudan. A total of 89 target respondents were interviewed out of the planned sample plan of 120 and this was mainly due to non-response. For each objective, analysis of findings was done using mean and on the same mean value close to 1 represents a state of agreement, mean value close to 2 means a state of not sure and mean close to 3 means a state of disagreement. The factors for determining food choices where classified under biological, economical, physical, social and psychological. Under biological factors, most of the respondents agreed that hunger (Mean=1.13 and Std. Dev=.36), appetite (Mean=1.0 and Std. Dev=.49), and taste (Mean= 1.02 and Std. Dev=.24) were determinants of food consumption. For economic factors, cost (Mean=1.00 and Std.Dev=.21) and income (Mean=1.20 and Std.Dev=.02) were identified by most respondents whereas majority were unsure about availability (Mean=2.18 and Std.Dev=.01). Most of the respondents were unsure about the physical factors such as, choice (Mean=2.21 and Std.Dev=.51), cooking skill (Mean=2.08 and Std.Dev=.53) and time (Mean=2.09 and Std.Dev=.83), whereas most respondents disagreed that education was not a determinant of food consumption choices. The social factors suggested strongly that family size (Mean=1.20 and Std.Dev=.02) was a determinant, whereas culture (Mean=2.6 and Std.Dev=.21), peer pressure (Mean=2.18 and Std. Dev=.01) and meal patterns (Mean=2.64 and Std.Dev=.13), most of the respondents were unsure. Among the psychological factors, mood (Mean=1.78 and Std.Dev=.16) and attitudes (Mean=1.90 and Std.Dev=.49) represented a level of uncertainty, whereas stress (Mean=2.89 and Std.Dev=.01) beliefs (Mean=2.83 and Std.Dev=.36) and knowledge were regarded as lesser determinants of food consumption choices. The key effects identified as consequences of inadequate food consumption include: stunted growth, sickly population, increased death rates, and increased medical costs. This study suggests that the determinants of food consumption choices constitute several factors that are either sole or correlate with one another to reach the choice. Most of the primary findings agreed with the findings from existing literature, however, there are some contrasts in arguments of food consumption determinants due to reasons such as contextual difference, climate differences, and individual and health difference which could raise more areas for further research as alternative concerns.