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Food security in selected Middle East and North Africa (MENA) countries: an inter-country comparison

Author

Listed:
  • Nasrin Omidvar

    (Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences)

  • Davod Ahmadi

    (McGill Institute for Global Food Security)

  • Kate Sinclair

    (McGill Institute for Global Food Security)

  • Hugo Melgar-Quiñonez

    (McGill Institute for Global Food Security)

Abstract

This study aims to assess and compare food security and its socio-demographic correlates in 18 Middle East and North African (MENA) countries that fall under the auspices of the World Health Organization Regional Office of the Eastern Mediterranean (EMRO). This cross-sectional study is based on data from the 2016 Gallup World Poll. The study sample included an average of 1000 individuals per country (n = 18,079). Food security status of individuals was measured using the Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES). Various statistical analyses such as descriptive, bivariate, and binary logistic regression were conducted. Countries were categorized into three clusters based on frequency of moderate to severe food insecurity, as well as political stability index and per capita income. The frequency of severe food insecurity was significantly lower in countries in cluster 1 (rich, stable) (5.0%) compared to the second (middle-low income, less stable) (13.6%), and third (middle-low income, unstable) (26.7%) clusters (P

Suggested Citation

  • Nasrin Omidvar & Davod Ahmadi & Kate Sinclair & Hugo Melgar-Quiñonez, 2019. "Food security in selected Middle East and North Africa (MENA) countries: an inter-country comparison," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 11(3), pages 531-540, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:ssefpa:v:11:y:2019:i:3:d:10.1007_s12571-019-00935-w
    DOI: 10.1007/s12571-019-00935-w
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    2. Assem Abu Hatab & Lena Krautscheid & Mohamed Elsayied & Franklin Amuakwa-Mensah, 2024. "COVID-19 risk perception and food security in the MENA region: evidence from a multi-wave household survey," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 16(4), pages 989-1008, August.
    3. Andrew Allee & Lee R. Lynd & Vikrant Vaze, 2021. "Cross-national analysis of food security drivers: comparing results based on the Food Insecurity Experience Scale and Global Food Security Index," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 13(5), pages 1245-1261, October.
    4. Jin-Won Noh & Jooyoung Cheon & Kyoung-Beom Kim & Si Eun Song & Jiho Cha & Young Dae Kwon, 2022. "Contributing Factors in Whether Displaced Households Want to Receive Humanitarian Information from Humanitarian Actors: Iraq Multi-Cluster Needs Assessment," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(16), pages 1-13, August.
    5. Zolfaghari, Mehdi & Jariani, Farzaneh, 2021. "Food Security in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA)," MPRA Paper 105078, University Library of Munich, Germany.

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