The COVID-19 pandemic and its impacts on diet quality and food prices in sub-Saharan Africa

Abbas Ismail, College of Natural and Mathematical Sciences, University of Dodoma, Dodoma, Tanzania.
Isabel Madzorera, Division of Community Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, CA, United States of America.
Edward A. Apraku, Kintampo Health Research Center, Research and Development Division, Ghana Health Service, Kintampo, Bono East Region, Ghana.
Amani Tinkasimile, Africa Academy for Public Health, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Dielbeogo Dasmane, Institut Supérieur des Sciences de la Population, University of Ouagadougou, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
Pascal Zabre, Nouna Health Research Center, Nouna, Burkina Faso.
Millogo Ourohire, Nouna Health Research Center, Nouna, Burkina Faso.
Nega Assefa, College of Health and Medical Sciences, Haramaya University, Harar, Ethiopia.
Angela Chukwu, Department of Statistics, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.
Firehiwot Workneh, Addis Continental Institute of Public Health, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Frank Mapendo, Africa Academy for Public Health, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Bruno Lankoande, Institut Supérieur des Sciences de la Population, University of Ouagadougou, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
Elena Hemler, Addis Continental Institute of Public Health, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Dongqing Wang, Addis Continental Institute of Public Health, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Sulemana W. Abubakari, Kintampo Health Research Center, Research and Development Division, Ghana Health Service, Kintampo, Bono East Region, Ghana.
Kwaku P. Asante, Kintampo Health Research Center, Research and Development Division, Ghana Health Service, Kintampo, Bono East Region, Ghana.
Till Baernighausen, Heidelberg Institute of Global Health, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.
Japhet Killewo, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Ayoade Oduola, University of Ibadan Research Foundation, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.
Ali Sie, Nouna Health Research Center, Nouna, Burkina Faso.
Abdramane Soura, Nouna Health Research Center, Nouna, Burkina Faso.
Said Vuai, College of Natural and Mathematical Sciences, University of Dodoma, Dodoma, Tanzania.
Emily Smith, Department of Global Health, Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States of America.
Yemane Berhane, Addis Continental Institute of Public Health, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Wafaie W. Fawzi, Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, MA, United States of America.

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

1-1-2023

Journal

PloS one

Volume

18

Issue

6

DOI

10.1371/journal.pone.0279610

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Sub-Saharan Africa faces prolonged COVID-19 related impacts on economic activity, livelihoods and nutrition, with recovery slowed down by lagging vaccination progress. OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the economic impacts of COVID-19 on food prices, consumption and dietary quality in Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Ghana, Nigeria, and Tanzania. METHODS: We conducted a repeated cross-sectional study using a mobile platform to collect data from July-December, 2021 (round 2). We assessed participants' dietary intake of 20 food groups over the previous seven days and computed the primary outcome, the Prime Diet Quality Score (PDQS), and Dietary Diversity Score (DDS), with higher scores indicating better quality diets. We used generalized estimating equation (GEE) linear regression models to assess factors associated with diet quality during COVID-19. RESULTS: Most of the respondents were male and the mean age was 42.4 (±12.5) years. Mean PDQS (±SD) was low at 19.4(±3.8), out of a maximum score of 40 in this study. Respondents (80%) reported higher than expected prices for all food groups. Secondary education or higher (estimate: 0.73, 95% CI: 0.32, 1.15), medium wealth status (estimate: 0.48, 95% CI: 0.14, 0.81), and older age were associated with higher PDQS. Farmers and casual laborers (estimate: -0.60, 95% CI: -1.11, -0.09), lower crop production (estimate: -0.87, 95% CI: -1.28, -0.46) and not engaged in farming (estimate: -1.38, 95% CI: -1.74, -1.02) were associated with lower PDQS. CONCLUSION: Higher food prices and lower diet quality persisted during the COVID-19 pandemic. Economic and social vulnerability and reliance on markets (and lower agriculture production) were negatively associated with diet quality. Although recovery was evident, consumption of healthy diets remained low. Systematic efforts to address the underlying causes of poor diet quality through transforming food system value chains, and mitigation measures, including social protection programs and national policies are critical.

Department

Global Health

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