Exploring Food Security and Mental Health in Upper West Ghana Through EmpowermentJESSICA HAM

UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA

Food insecurity

Health outcomes

Socio-economic productivity

Empowerment Vulnerability

UPPER WEST GHANA

WHY FOOD INSECURITY, WHY HERE?

33% of the population in the north is food insecure

6% of the population in the south is food insecure

42% of the Wa West district is food insecure 2009; 2012 WFP

Setting the scene

Mental Health

Food Insecurity and Mental Health Survey Results

Calculated WEAIIndexes Women MenDisempowered Headcount (H) 67.24% 3.39%

Empowered Headcount (1-H) 32.76% 96.61%Average Inadequacy Score (A) 44.02% 51.677%

Average Adequacy Score (1-A) 55.98% 48.33%Disempowerment Index (M0 = HXA) 0.296 0.018

5DE Index (1-M0) 0.704 0.982 No. of observations used 58 59Total observations 58 59% of Data used 100.00% 100.00% % of women without gender parity (HGPI) 29.91%

% of women with gender parity (1-HGPI) 70.09%Average Empowerment Gap (IGPI) 29.64%

GPI (1 - HGPI x IGPI) 0.911 No. of observations used 45Total no. of dual households 45% of Data Used 100.00% WEAI (0.9X5DE+.1XGPI) 0.725 0.716

27.9% (f) 76.2% (m)

26.9%

WEAI by CommunityCHANSA

Indexes Women MenDisempowered Headcount (H) 77.78% 3.23%Empowered Headcount (1-H) 22.22% 96.77%Average Inadequacy Score (A) 40.00% 43.33%Average Adequacy Score (1-A) 60.00% 56.67%Disempowerment Index (M0 = HXA) 0.311 0.0145DE Index (1-M0) 0.689 0.986 No. of observations used 27 31Total observations 27 31

% of Data used 100.00%100.00

% % of women without gender parity (HGPI) 32.76%

% of women with gender parity (1-HGPI) 67.24%Average Empowerment Gap (IGPI) 26.54%GPI (1 - HGPI x IGPI) 91.31% No. of observations used 25Total no. of dual households 25% of Data Used 100.00% WEAI (0.9X5DE+.1XGPI) 0.711

TAMPIANI Indexes Women MenDisempowered Headcount (H) 58.06% 3.57%Empowered Headcount (1-H) 41.94% 96.43%Average Inadequacy Score (A) 48.70% 60.00%Average Adequacy Score (1-A) 51.30% 40.00%Disempowerment Index (M0 = HXA) 0.288 0.0215DE Index (1-M0) 0.712 0.979 No. of observations used 31 28Total observations 31 28% of Data used 1 1 % of women without gender parity (HGPI) 27.12%

% of women with gender parity (1-HGPI) 72.88%Average Empowerment Gap (IGPI) 33.33%GPI (1 - HGPI x IGPI) 90.96% No. of observations used 20Total no. of dual households 20% of Data Used 100%

WEAI (0.9X5DE+.1XGPI) 0.736

MeasureNumber of

Subjects Z Statistic P-ValueAdequacy Score 117 0.19 0.8517

Relating Food Insecurity and Mental Health

N=406 Rho=.623 P<.0001

b=.78 P<.0001

R2=.38

Gendered AnalysisMeasure Number of

SubjectsZ Statistic

P-Value

Food Security

198 men208 women

-3.41 P<0.0007

Mental Health

198 men 208 women

-3.12 P<.0018

Male(0) Female(1) b p R2

N=198 .67 P<.0001 .33

N=208 .82 P<.0001 .39

Relationship Between Adequacy and Food Security/Mental Health

Measure Number of Subjects Rho P-ValueFood Security Time 1 99 -0.1771 0.0795

Food Security Time 2 111 -0.1121 0.2417

Food Security Time 3 113 -0.0754 0.4272

Mental Health Time 1 100 -0.1866 0.0631

Mental Health Time 2 111 0.0108 0.9101

Mental Health Time 3 113 -0.0222 0.8156

Next Steps

Look at how individual domains/indicators relate to food insecurity

Look for a relationship between adequacy scores and individual domains and BMI

Look to see if adequacy scores associate with agricultural yield

Upper West Livelihoods

Shea fruit Charcoal

Farming

Ongoing narrative of continuity and change

Construction

Ethos of Unity

Acknowledgements Research support:

WEAI Dissertation Fellowship

Borlaug Food Security Research Grant

Statistical assistance:

University of Georgia Statistical Consultancy Center (Dr. Kim Love-Myers and Fei Lu)