(P02-004-23) Gendered Role on the Food Environment in Ghana in Relation to Household Food Acquisition and Consumption

Objectives: The study assessed gender roles in food acquisition and consumption in households in Ghana. The study also assessed the determinants of food acquisition and consumption.

Hypothesis
Gender does not influence household food acquisition and consumption.

Methods: This study is a cross-sectional study where quantified food frequency questionnaires were used. The study employed nonprobability (exhaustive sampling) and probability (simple random) sampling methods.

Results: The findings suggest that poverty is a powerful determinant of food acquisition and consumption. Poverty was higher in female-headed households compared to male-headed households. The findings reflected that 63% of the total female respondents reported low risk but vulnerability which is a bit higher than that of the male where the majority 62.7% of the total male respondent were low risk but vulnerable as well. For Lived Poverty Index (LPI), female respondents had the highest deprived level due to poverty at 40.32% while the male was 27.41. Generally, women recorded the highest 99% consumption of obesogenic-promoting foods compared to men with 95.6% seldom consumption of unhealthy food.

Conclusions: It is therefore prudent to consider the role gender plays in the food chain value as well as household food acquisition and consumption.

Funding Sources: No source of funding