Measuring the food access dimension of food security: A critical review and mapping of indicators

With food security now a top priority for many governments and for the global development community, there is heightened awareness of the need to improve our understanding and measurement of food security.To bring clarity in the assessment of the food access dimension of food security at the househo...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Leroy, Jef L., Ruel, Marie T., Frongillo, Edward A., Harris, Jody, Ballard, Terri J.
Format: Journal Article
Language:Inglés
Published: SAGE Publications 2015
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/149840
_version_ 1855535984480878592
author Leroy, Jef L.
Ruel, Marie T.
Frongillo, Edward A.
Harris, Jody
Ballard, Terri J.
author_browse Ballard, Terri J.
Frongillo, Edward A.
Harris, Jody
Leroy, Jef L.
Ruel, Marie T.
author_facet Leroy, Jef L.
Ruel, Marie T.
Frongillo, Edward A.
Harris, Jody
Ballard, Terri J.
author_sort Leroy, Jef L.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description With food security now a top priority for many governments and for the global development community, there is heightened awareness of the need to improve our understanding and measurement of food security.To bring clarity in the assessment of the food access dimension of food security at the household and individual level.For the most commonly used indicators, we reviewed their original purpose and construction, at what levels (household or individual) they were designed to be used, what components (quality, quantity, safety, and cultural acceptability) they were intended to reflect, and whether or not they have been tested for validity and comparability across contexts.We identified nine indicators and grouped them in three broad categories: experience-based, coping strategies, and dietary diversity. The indicators only capture the quantity and quality components of food access; none of the indicators capture information on safety or cultural acceptability of food access. Household Dietary Diversity (HDDS) and Food Consumption Score (FCS) are often considered indicators of both quantity and quality, but they have not been validated for the latter.We recommend the use of experience-based indicators, HDDS, or FCS to assess household access to energy; experience-based indicators to assess household access to diet quality (defined qualitatively as not having to adopt practices that favor acquiring cheaper, less appealing, and less micronutrient-dense foods); and individual dietary diversity scores for women or children to assess individual access to diet quality, defined as micronutrient adequacy.
format Journal Article
id CGSpace149840
institution CGIAR Consortium
language Inglés
publishDate 2015
publishDateRange 2015
publishDateSort 2015
publisher SAGE Publications
publisherStr SAGE Publications
record_format dspace
spelling CGSpace1498402024-11-15T08:52:58Z Measuring the food access dimension of food security: A critical review and mapping of indicators Leroy, Jef L. Ruel, Marie T. Frongillo, Edward A. Harris, Jody Ballard, Terri J. indicators measurement food access review food security With food security now a top priority for many governments and for the global development community, there is heightened awareness of the need to improve our understanding and measurement of food security.To bring clarity in the assessment of the food access dimension of food security at the household and individual level.For the most commonly used indicators, we reviewed their original purpose and construction, at what levels (household or individual) they were designed to be used, what components (quality, quantity, safety, and cultural acceptability) they were intended to reflect, and whether or not they have been tested for validity and comparability across contexts.We identified nine indicators and grouped them in three broad categories: experience-based, coping strategies, and dietary diversity. The indicators only capture the quantity and quality components of food access; none of the indicators capture information on safety or cultural acceptability of food access. Household Dietary Diversity (HDDS) and Food Consumption Score (FCS) are often considered indicators of both quantity and quality, but they have not been validated for the latter.We recommend the use of experience-based indicators, HDDS, or FCS to assess household access to energy; experience-based indicators to assess household access to diet quality (defined qualitatively as not having to adopt practices that favor acquiring cheaper, less appealing, and less micronutrient-dense foods); and individual dietary diversity scores for women or children to assess individual access to diet quality, defined as micronutrient adequacy. 2015-07-10 2024-08-01T02:50:03Z 2024-08-01T02:50:03Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/149840 en Limited Access SAGE Publications Leroy, Jef L.; Ruel, Marie T.; Frongillo, Edward A.; Harris, Jody; and Ballard, Terri J. 2015. Measuring the food access dimension of food security: A critical review and mapping of indicators. Food and Nutrition Bulletin 36 (2):167 - 195. https://doi.org/10.1177/0379572115587274
spellingShingle indicators
measurement
food access
review
food security
Leroy, Jef L.
Ruel, Marie T.
Frongillo, Edward A.
Harris, Jody
Ballard, Terri J.
Measuring the food access dimension of food security: A critical review and mapping of indicators
title Measuring the food access dimension of food security: A critical review and mapping of indicators
title_full Measuring the food access dimension of food security: A critical review and mapping of indicators
title_fullStr Measuring the food access dimension of food security: A critical review and mapping of indicators
title_full_unstemmed Measuring the food access dimension of food security: A critical review and mapping of indicators
title_short Measuring the food access dimension of food security: A critical review and mapping of indicators
title_sort measuring the food access dimension of food security a critical review and mapping of indicators
topic indicators
measurement
food access
review
food security
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/149840
work_keys_str_mv AT leroyjefl measuringthefoodaccessdimensionoffoodsecurityacriticalreviewandmappingofindicators
AT ruelmariet measuringthefoodaccessdimensionoffoodsecurityacriticalreviewandmappingofindicators
AT frongilloedwarda measuringthefoodaccessdimensionoffoodsecurityacriticalreviewandmappingofindicators
AT harrisjody measuringthefoodaccessdimensionoffoodsecurityacriticalreviewandmappingofindicators
AT ballardterrij measuringthefoodaccessdimensionoffoodsecurityacriticalreviewandmappingofindicators