Abstract:
Hunger and food insecurity has worsened due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The types of
food environments (e.g., natural/built) that people can access may improve household resilience to
food-system shocks. This paper examines (1) urban and rural differences in the perceived influence
of the COVID-19 pandemic on agricultural, livelihoods, food environment attributes, diets; and
(2) whether access to different food environments was associated with food security. A two-part
telephonic survey (COVID-19 Surveillance Community Action Network Food Systems Tool and
Household Food Insecurity Access Scale) was conducted in Western Kenya (n = 173) and an informal
settlement in Nairobi (n = 144) in January/February 2021. Limitations on the acquisition of farm
inputs and movement restrictions had an adverse impact on agriculture and food sales. Urban
residents reported a more significant impact on livelihoods (97% vs. 87%, p < 0.001), with day laborers
being the most impacted. Rural respondents reported access to significantly more food environments
and lower food insecurity. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that younger respondents, ≤1
income source, had more difficulty acquiring food, decreased access to cultivated environments, and
increased access to informal markets were predictors for higher food insecurity. These data indicate
that access to specific types of food environments may improve household resilience.
