Hunger and Malnutrition in a COVID-19 Environment: What Are the Effects Amidst Rising Food Prices in Sub-Saharan Africa?

The COVID-19 pandemic intensified existing structural challenges in Africa, including poverty, weak healthcare systems, and fragile agricultural supply chains. Consequently, examining its effects remains a critical area of study. This research investigates the effect of food prices on the prevalence...

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Main Authors: Bernadette Dia Kamgnia, Kan David N’Dri
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-06-01
Series:Economies
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7099/13/6/173
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author Bernadette Dia Kamgnia
Kan David N’Dri
author_facet Bernadette Dia Kamgnia
Kan David N’Dri
author_sort Bernadette Dia Kamgnia
collection DOAJ
description The COVID-19 pandemic intensified existing structural challenges in Africa, including poverty, weak healthcare systems, and fragile agricultural supply chains. Consequently, examining its effects remains a critical area of study. This research investigates the effect of food prices on the prevalence of malnutrition in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic in sub-Saharan Africa. The findings indicate a significant long-term relationship between the number of COVID-19 cases, food prices, and the prevalence of undernourishment. Specifically, increases in food prices are associated with a rise in undernourishment rates over the long term. These results are corroborated by estimations using Fully Modified Ordinary Least Squares (FMOLS). To mitigate malnutrition in the face of potential future health shocks, governments could create and operationalize food price stabilization funds to cushion against sharp increases in food prices. These funds can be used to subsidize key staples during periods of price volatility, ensuring affordability for vulnerable populations.
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spelling doaj-art-e611ec0275c04418b7e651d33a1881552025-08-20T02:24:38ZengMDPI AGEconomies2227-70992025-06-0113617310.3390/economies13060173Hunger and Malnutrition in a COVID-19 Environment: What Are the Effects Amidst Rising Food Prices in Sub-Saharan Africa?Bernadette Dia Kamgnia0Kan David N’Dri1Cellule d’analyse des politiques économiques du CIRES (CAPEC), Abidjan 08 BP 1295, Côte d’IvoireBusiness and Social Science School, International University of Grand-Bassam, Grand-Bassam BP 564, Côte d’IvoireThe COVID-19 pandemic intensified existing structural challenges in Africa, including poverty, weak healthcare systems, and fragile agricultural supply chains. Consequently, examining its effects remains a critical area of study. This research investigates the effect of food prices on the prevalence of malnutrition in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic in sub-Saharan Africa. The findings indicate a significant long-term relationship between the number of COVID-19 cases, food prices, and the prevalence of undernourishment. Specifically, increases in food prices are associated with a rise in undernourishment rates over the long term. These results are corroborated by estimations using Fully Modified Ordinary Least Squares (FMOLS). To mitigate malnutrition in the face of potential future health shocks, governments could create and operationalize food price stabilization funds to cushion against sharp increases in food prices. These funds can be used to subsidize key staples during periods of price volatility, ensuring affordability for vulnerable populations.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7099/13/6/173health crisesmalnutritionfood pricespanel ARDL<title>JEL Classification</title>C32
spellingShingle Bernadette Dia Kamgnia
Kan David N’Dri
Hunger and Malnutrition in a COVID-19 Environment: What Are the Effects Amidst Rising Food Prices in Sub-Saharan Africa?
Economies
health crises
malnutrition
food prices
panel ARDL
<title>JEL Classification</title>
C32
title Hunger and Malnutrition in a COVID-19 Environment: What Are the Effects Amidst Rising Food Prices in Sub-Saharan Africa?
title_full Hunger and Malnutrition in a COVID-19 Environment: What Are the Effects Amidst Rising Food Prices in Sub-Saharan Africa?
title_fullStr Hunger and Malnutrition in a COVID-19 Environment: What Are the Effects Amidst Rising Food Prices in Sub-Saharan Africa?
title_full_unstemmed Hunger and Malnutrition in a COVID-19 Environment: What Are the Effects Amidst Rising Food Prices in Sub-Saharan Africa?
title_short Hunger and Malnutrition in a COVID-19 Environment: What Are the Effects Amidst Rising Food Prices in Sub-Saharan Africa?
title_sort hunger and malnutrition in a covid 19 environment what are the effects amidst rising food prices in sub saharan africa
topic health crises
malnutrition
food prices
panel ARDL
<title>JEL Classification</title>
C32
url https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7099/13/6/173
work_keys_str_mv AT bernadettediakamgnia hungerandmalnutritioninacovid19environmentwhataretheeffectsamidstrisingfoodpricesinsubsaharanafrica
AT kandavidndri hungerandmalnutritioninacovid19environmentwhataretheeffectsamidstrisingfoodpricesinsubsaharanafrica