Comparative Analysis of Household Food and Nutrition Security in Selected Philippine Urban and Rural Households During the COVID-19 Pandemic

This study analyzed the food and nutrition security of selected urban and rural households in Pili, Camarines Sur, Philippines during the COVID-19 pandemic. It determined the prevalence of food insecurity among the selected urban and rural households, analyzed the determinants of food insecurity in these households, determined the prevalence of malnutrition, and assessed the relationship between the households’ food security and nutrition security. Primary data from a survey of 185 urban and rural households and secondary data from the Electronic Operation Timbang Plus (e-OPT) Tool were used to determine the prevalence of food insecurity using the Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES) of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and nutrition insecurity between urban and rural households, respectively. Results revealed that, during the pandemic, there were more (89.1%) food-insecure households most of which were from urban areas (88.3%). The ordered logistic regression analysis also showed that food insecurity in urban households was determined by the age of the household head, household monthly income, household size, and access to credit, while food insecurity in rural households was determined by education, monthly income, household daily food expenditure, and land ownership. Stunting and wasting among children under the age of five were more evident in urban households; however, rural households had a higher prevalence of stunted and wasted children aged 6 – 12 yr. The Fisher’s Exact Test results showed that the food security status and nutrition security level of children aged 0 – 5 yr and school-aged children were unrelated. Targeted courses of action are recommended to address area-specific nutrition problems.