Urban Household Coping Strategies for Food Security in Pateros, Philippines: A Cross-sectional Study

Background. Globally, approximately 9.8% of the population faces varying levels of food insecurity. The existence of food insecurity within households significantly impacts food consumption, leading to difficulty in meeting dietary requirements to maintain optimum health. Moreover, urban areas in particular are vulnerable to the harmful effects of food insecurity; discovering coping strategies towards food security must be done. Objective. This study aimed to determine the different coping strategies of households in Pateros to achieve food security. Methods. A cross-sectional study design was used among 690 primary caregivers of households in Pateros. Demographic information, data on their food security status, and coping strategies were all gathered at one point in time. An association between coping strategies and household food security was done by multinomial logistic regression using Stata 16. Results. The study revealed that 6 out of 10 households in Pateros were food insecure, at varying levels. Specifically, 22% were mildly food insecure, 32% were moderately food insecure, and 7% were experiencing severe food insecurity. Moreover, the most common coping strategies used by food-insecure households were found to be relying on less preferred foods as they are less expensive, as well as purchasing food on credit. Having a household head aged 41–59 years old was associated with a higher risk of mild insecurity (RRR = 1.54, p = 0.051). While household income was found to be strongly protective, suggesting that incomes of PhP 25,001–35,000 (RRR = 0.23, p <0.001) and above PhP 35,000 (RRR = 0.11, p <0.001) were significantly associated with decreased risks of mild, moderate, and severe food insecurity. Conclusion. Collaborative efforts between the local government units and local communities to improve the food environment and tailor effective strategies must be done to sustainably improve the state of food insecurity in the area.