Food Insecurity During COVID-19 in Cameroon: Associated Factors and Adaptation Strategies

This study seeks to identify the factors driving household food insecurity in Cameroon during the COVID-19 pandemic, examine the effects of coping strategies on household resilience, and explore complementarities among these strategies. We used data from the COVID-19 panel surveys conducted by the N...

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Main Authors: Atanase Yene, Sophie Michelle Eke Balla
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-06-01
Series:Economies
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7099/13/6/172
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author Atanase Yene
Sophie Michelle Eke Balla
author_facet Atanase Yene
Sophie Michelle Eke Balla
author_sort Atanase Yene
collection DOAJ
description This study seeks to identify the factors driving household food insecurity in Cameroon during the COVID-19 pandemic, examine the effects of coping strategies on household resilience, and explore complementarities among these strategies. We used data from the COVID-19 panel surveys conducted by the National Institute of Statistics of Cameroon. Three models are estimated: an ordered logit model for food insecurity factors, a logit model for the impact of coping strategies, and a multivariate probit model for complementarities. The findings reveal that food insecurity is exacerbated by conflict, socio economic shocks (e.g., loss of employment, crop theft), and price hikes. About 28.59% of households are resilient, mainly due to past savings, cash transfers, free food, and in-kind transfers. The study emphasizes the importance of social and governmental support to mitigate food insecurity during crises, and underscores the need for monitoring socio-economic conditions during pandemics and other crises.
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publishDate 2025-06-01
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spelling doaj-art-4b7a6ed9437546d1a5f5c22b2890835d2025-08-20T03:27:15ZengMDPI AGEconomies2227-70992025-06-0113617210.3390/economies13060172Food Insecurity During COVID-19 in Cameroon: Associated Factors and Adaptation StrategiesAtanase Yene0Sophie Michelle Eke Balla1Department of Public, Social and Solidarity Economics, Faculty of Economics and Applied Management, University of Douala, Douala P.O. Box 4032, CameroonDepartment of Public, Social and Solidarity Economics, Faculty of Economics and Applied Management, University of Douala, Douala P.O. Box 4032, CameroonThis study seeks to identify the factors driving household food insecurity in Cameroon during the COVID-19 pandemic, examine the effects of coping strategies on household resilience, and explore complementarities among these strategies. We used data from the COVID-19 panel surveys conducted by the National Institute of Statistics of Cameroon. Three models are estimated: an ordered logit model for food insecurity factors, a logit model for the impact of coping strategies, and a multivariate probit model for complementarities. The findings reveal that food insecurity is exacerbated by conflict, socio economic shocks (e.g., loss of employment, crop theft), and price hikes. About 28.59% of households are resilient, mainly due to past savings, cash transfers, free food, and in-kind transfers. The study emphasizes the importance of social and governmental support to mitigate food insecurity during crises, and underscores the need for monitoring socio-economic conditions during pandemics and other crises.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7099/13/6/172adaptation strategiesCOVID-19food insecurityhouseholdresilience
spellingShingle Atanase Yene
Sophie Michelle Eke Balla
Food Insecurity During COVID-19 in Cameroon: Associated Factors and Adaptation Strategies
Economies
adaptation strategies
COVID-19
food insecurity
household
resilience
title Food Insecurity During COVID-19 in Cameroon: Associated Factors and Adaptation Strategies
title_full Food Insecurity During COVID-19 in Cameroon: Associated Factors and Adaptation Strategies
title_fullStr Food Insecurity During COVID-19 in Cameroon: Associated Factors and Adaptation Strategies
title_full_unstemmed Food Insecurity During COVID-19 in Cameroon: Associated Factors and Adaptation Strategies
title_short Food Insecurity During COVID-19 in Cameroon: Associated Factors and Adaptation Strategies
title_sort food insecurity during covid 19 in cameroon associated factors and adaptation strategies
topic adaptation strategies
COVID-19
food insecurity
household
resilience
url https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7099/13/6/172
work_keys_str_mv AT atanaseyene foodinsecurityduringcovid19incameroonassociatedfactorsandadaptationstrategies
AT sophiemichelleekeballa foodinsecurityduringcovid19incameroonassociatedfactorsandadaptationstrategies