Socioeconomic differences in housewife's ability to take nutrritional care

To explore socio-economic differences in 'Nutritional Care Potential' [NCP] of housewives belonging to three distinctively different income groups living in urban areas of Karachi. Data was collected from families living in small, medium and large sized houses located in the authorized urban residential areas of Karachi. A total of 180 housewives [60 each for low, middle and high income groups] were interviewed. Trained data collectors visited the households, interviewed the housewives about family's socio-demographic characteristics and their own nutritional knowledge, health locus of control and decision making. The total NCP scores increased with income level [Low = 14.8+5.6; Middle 16.58+5.5; High = 17.28+5.3] but the difference was statistically significant only between low and high income groups [t-test P = 0.015]. The mean nutrition knowledge score of low income group was lower [mean score = 11.7+4.1] and significantly different from both middle [mean score = 13.5+3.4 t-text P = 0.013] and high income group [mean score = 14.2+4.0, t-test P = 0.001]. All the three income groups had firmer belief in internal health locus of control [mean score less than one out of a total of 4]. Though, the mean score was highest for the high income group and lowest for the middle income group but the difference were not statistically significant. There were no marked differences in decision making power of the three groups. The results of this study document socioeconomic difference in nutrition care potential. Though nutrition care potential of housewives was not found to be commendable at any income level, the fact that it is low at lower income levels indicates that poor nutritional status at lower income level is not because of income only

Food insecurity in metropolis of the developing world - observations from central district of Karachi, Pakistan

To asses the prevalence of household food insecurity at various income levels in urban areas of Karachi A cross sectional survey of different localities in the central district of Karachi was carried out. The data was collected through household interviews of housewives conducted by trained nutritionist. Housewives were interviewed about food security status of the household. A total of 797 families were visited from the central district of Karachi. Mean Food Security Score increased with income level. The difference was statistically significant [ANOVA] between 1st and second [P=0.000] and 2nd and 3rd group [P=0.000] but not between 3rd and fourth group. At the very low and low income levels 83% and 51% families respectively were food insecure in any degree, while this percentage was very low at the middle [6.3%] and high income level [1.8%]. The difference in prevalence of food insecurity between the VLI and LI, and, LI and MI income groups was statistically significant [chi.sq. test, p<0.001 in each case]. Hunger [because of lack of money] was experienced in the preceding year only by "very low income" [37%] and "low income" families [17%]. Use of coping strategies was most frequently mentioned for parents and then for children and only occasionally for infants or grand parents. Females were more likely to be effected by food insecurity than males. Meat, milk and fruits were the food groups which were preferred and considered healthy but were avoided because of lack of money by a majority [51%-86%] of families. Conclusions: In spite of having an impression of being an affluent city of Pakistan, the prevalence of food insecurity with and without hunger is rampant not only among very low income [slum dwellers] but also among low income families of Karachi