COVID-19 MEASURES EFFECT ON FOOD CONSUMPTION PATTERNS FOR URBAN LOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS IN NAKURU COUNTY, KENYA

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted food chains worldwide. The Kenyan government initiated measures to curb the spread of the novel disease. Some measures include lockdown, a ban on social gatherings, and the closure of institutions like school restaurants and eateries, potentially changing households' food consumption patterns. This study contributes towards improving the livelihood of low-income households in Nakuru County by assessing the effects of COVID-19 measures on food consumption patterns in Nakuru County. Specifically, the study aimed to determine the changes in consumption patterns due to COVID-19 measures, assess the factors influencing changes in consumption patterns, and determine COVID-19 measures' effect on food consumption patterns. Data was collected through structured questionnaire interviews. Multi-stage sampling was used to select a sample of 246 Household respondents in Kaptembwa, Rhonda, and Kapkures wards residents in Nakuru West Sub-county. Paired-sample t-tests were undertaken to determine significant differences in the mean level of shopping frequencies and food consumption of different food categories during the pandemic and before. The study used the ordered logistic regression model to assess the factors influencing change in food consumption patterns. The effect of COVID-19 measures on FCP was determined through the multinomial endogenous switching regression model. Study results indicated a significant decrease in household consumption of meat, dairy, fruits, snacks and wheat products (p-values <0.001). Findings also revealed that there was a significant decrease in shopping frequencies of readymade food, snacks and meat products (p-values <0.001) and a significant increase in shopping frequencies of vegetables and wheat products (p-values <0.001 and fruits (p-values <0.05). The factors including HFDM age, Change in food prices, income changes and change in the person in charge of food before COVID-19, fruits and vegetables shopping frequency, and the ban on social gatherings significantly affected the decrease in food consumption patterns while money spent on food and movement restrictions significantly affected an increase in FCPs. Out of the sampled 246 households. 63.01% were affected negatively, 7.32% had no effect. 6.10% experienced positive effects, while all other partial combinations had a negative effect on FCP. Recommendations drawn from the study include subsidies of staple foods during a crisis, educational programs and effective communication of proposed measures to spur the local economy by enabling local production and sourcing of materials required during a crisis.