Socio-economic factors affecting food security in households of elderly persons in Imenti central sub county, Meru county, Kenya

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to investigate the socio-economic factors affecting food security in households of elderly persons in Imenti Central Sub County, Kenya. The objectives were to assess demographic characteristics of households with elderly persons, health status of elderly persons, influence of aging and farming practices of elderly persons in relation to households‘ food security. The study was based on the disengagement theory of aging, the activity theory of aging and the theory of food economy and entitlements. The study adopted a descriptive survey design. The target population of the study comprised of 80 households in each of the four divisions within Imenti Central Sub County. The sample size comprised of 320 households with elderly persons purposively sampled, key informants to address matters facing the aged and Focus Group Discussion (FGDs) with groups of elderly persons. Questionnaire tools were used to collect the data from elderly persons, while interview guides collected data from key informants and the FGDs. A total of 304 elderly persons‘ questionnaires were returned and a questionnaire return rate of 95% was achieved. The major findings of the study revealed that majority of the elderly persons were living in pathetic conditions since they have been left alone in shanty structures in the rural as their children have moved to the urban in search of employment. Their health status contributes to low food security due to the fact that they either have health conditions that hinder them from eating the available food for instance when on diet or they do not like eating the kind of food that is available in the households. Aging interfere more with sustaining the level of food security in households with elderly persons because as age crops in they get less active and they cultivate only small portions of their land either leaving the rest uncultivated or leasing it out. Elderly persons maintain traditional farming practices and fail to embrace the evolving agricultural technology, thus their lands gets less productive causing food insecurity. Moreover, the study revealed that most households with elderly persons were faced by food insecurity with severe hunger as only 19.4 percent of the households were food secure. In the light of the research findings, the researcher recommended that; although social norms and traditional mind-sets are difficult to change over short time, the collaboration efforts involving the government, the community and the families should be encouraged on caregiving in regard to the challenges that come with aging. Thus the researcher suggested for further research on the impact of Cash Transfer Programme for elderly persons on the levels of food security in their households.