HIV / AIDS and urban food insecurity : an examination of household coping and adaptation strategies in Spunzana and Mdantsane in East London.

Abstract

This study examines the coping and adaptation strategies employed by HIV and AIDS affected and infected households to address food insecurity in East London. The study found that households diversified their income portfolios to cope with the effects of HIV and AIDS household food insecurity. Livelihood diversification was accompanied by adaptation changes at household level that included buying cheap food from affordable stores, rationing food and adults skipping meals to ensure that they preserve some food for the children. Some households went as far as sending their children to live with relatives ( in most cases grandmothers) in the rural areas in order to ease the pressure on the household budget. The respondents stated that such children would be able to have food on a regular basis whilst the affected households in the urban area will be having few mouths to feed. Social networks were an important livelihood strategy with 17 out of 19 households reporting that they use this resource. It was difficult to calculate the value of social networks on household monthly incomes but the study noted that social networks played an important role in an environment where there were less or no government or civil society programmes to assist the affected households. Unemployment was high among the households studied but in those households where members had employment, such income made a difference in household food access. Government grants to the elderly and children were a significant source of income for food for the affected and afflicted households.