Gender-based implications of the COVID-19 pandemic on household diet diversity and nutritional security in Pakistan

• Published in: British food journal (1966) 2022-02, Vol.124 (3), p.951-967
• Main Authors: Shahbaz, Pomi, Haq, Shamsheer ul, Khalid, Umer Bin, Boz, Ismet
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Calories; Cereals; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; Dairy products; Data collection; Diet; Essential nutrients; Females; Food groups; Food security; Gender; Households; Human body; Income; Infections; Iodine; Iron; Males; Meat; Nutrients; Nutrition research; Pandemics; Phosphorus; Polls & surveys; Population; Public health; Questionnaires; Social networks; Society; Socioeconomic factors; Variance analysis; Womens health
• ISSN: 0007-070X; 1758-4108
• DOI: 10.1108/BFJ-05-2021-0464

PurposeThe COVID-19 pandemic has profound implications on the food and nutritional security of millions of households. The study assessed the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on diet diversity, calorie consumption and intake of essential nutrients based on the gender of the households.Design/methodology/approachMixed-design ANOVA and logistic regression were used to analyze the collected data from 260 female- and 463 male-headed households through an online survey in Pakistan.FindingsThe outcomes revealed that the diet diversity of female households was affected more due to the COVID-19 compared to male households. The decline in daily nutrients' (protein, phosphorus, zinc, iron and iodine) intake during the COVID-19 was also greater for female-headed households than male-headed households. The share of all food groups in daily calorie and nutrient provision decreased significantly during the COVID-19 for both types of households. The share of meat and meat products declined more for female-headed households compared to male-headed households. The share of perishable commodities in calorie provision to female and male households decreased 2% during the COVID-19 compared to the normal period. Small- and medium-sized female and male households were less likely to experience worsened diet diversity than large-sized households during the COVID-19. Low-income compared to medium- and high-income female and male households were more likely to report declined food diversity during the COVID-19.Research limitations/implicationsThe data used in this study were collected through an online survey due to public health measures imposed in the country.Originality/valueDespite the emergence of literature on the implications of the pandemic on food security, the studies related to the gender-based impacts of COVID-19 on diet diversity and nutritional intakes of necessary nutrients are still non-existent. The current study will add to the literature by filling this gap.