Exploring Socio-economic Factors Influencing Food Insecurity Among Older Women With Disability Living in Informal Urban Settlements: a Case of Dagoretti South Constituency, Kenya

Abstract

The main objective of this study was to investigate the extent to which socio-economic factors within the context of the triple burden of gender, old age, and disability among women frames food insecurity as an ongoing disaster risk. The study was contextualized in an informal urban settlement in the capital city, Nairobi. Dagoretti constituency provided the study with a conducive environment. The objectives of the study were, to identify the challenges faced in accessing food by older women living with physical disability, to examine the role of existing income options and social networks in addressing their food insecurity, and to thematically analyse the role of intersecting vulnerabilities in compounding food insecurity as a disaster risk. The study was guided by three theories namely the intersectionality theory, social feminist theory, and the vulnerability theory. This study adopted a descriptive qualitative approach targeting older women above 60years living with physical disabilities, in Dagoretti South‟s informal settlements. To augment findings, the study also interviewed staff from older persons and community-based organizations in the area who work directly on outreach interventions targeting older persons with disabilities as key informants. The primary study participants were purposely identified from the areas chief‟s database of persons with disabilities. Using in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, key informant interviews and participant observation data was collected and analyzed by means of Nvivo 9/12 software. Themes and categories conceptualized from the data were organized to provide support for discussion responding to the research questions. Study findings indicate that, that lack of income is one of the main factors affecting food security among older women living with disability in the study area. Additionally, poor health, a rising cost of living in urban areas and reduced food quantities in the market were cited as reasons for household food inaccessibility and insecurity. The study concluded that older women with disabilities face increased food insecurity that is compounded by multiple factors beyond their control including lack of income, poor health, lack of family support, lack of safety and security and a lack of access to resource owing to immobility. Additionally, these vulnerabilities intersect at individual, social and environmental levels. Social protection and familial care that would normally cushion disabled older women against food insecurity fell short of addressing this crisis due to limited coverage, small amounts of cash transfer (Kshs 2,000), a lack of targeting in social protection programs like Inua Jamii, neglect and abandonment by family members. In conclusion, among older women with disability intersecting vulnerabilities enhanced risks to food insecurity. Therefore, if these factors are not mitigated, the vulnerability status exacerbates food insecurity. This study recommended that the government of Kenya ensures that older women living with physical disabilities in Dagoretti South constituency were targeted to benefit from older persons cash transfers. The role of older persons community-based organizations in addressing food insecurity was commended and hence the study recommends increased funding to such organizations, to increase their coverage in the community. The government should have a policy framework food distribution in informal urban settlements targeting vulnerable groups like older women with disabilities, The government should ensure that older women with physical disabilities have access to health care to break the cycle of disease and hunger.