Assessing the relationship between poverty, hunger and malnutrition in Thatikandh rural municipality, Dailekh

Abstract

The thesis entitled "Assessing the Relationship between Poverty, Hunger and Malnutrition in Thatikandh Rural Municipality" has been prepared to analyze the relationship between status of the poverty and malnutrition, in the marginalized people of Thatikandh Rural Municipality wards no 1, 2, and 6 in Dailekh district. The use of three objectives including i) to examine food security situation of community people, ii) assessing the factors associated with food security status, and iii) analysis of the causal relationships between poverty, hunger and malnutrition have been used to tackle the main title in this research. This research plan investigates poverty, hunger, and malnutrition in Thatikandh Rural Municipality, Nepal, using a descriptive research design. It employs a mix of quantitative and qualitative methods, including Household Surveys, Key Informant Interviews, and Focus Group Discussions. The study focuses on Wards 1, 2, and 6, with a sample of 108 households. Data analysis applies grounded theory and induction to draw broader conclusions about poverty and food security, aiming to inform policy and action in the community. Examining the food security situation of Thatikandh Rural municipality, the four major indicators as availability, accessibility, stability and utilization shows that the people living in ward 1, 2 and 6 of this rural municipality are facing major problem of food insecurity as they are deprived of sound availability, accessibility, stability as well as utilization. The poverty of the people of these areas have been main cause for creation of insecurity. With the insecurity in food, there are certain factors that are the reasons. The food pricing system, network of infrastructure and social support system are main reasons in community level. Likewise, unavailability of employment opportunities and least family income level have been considered as other factors that deprive people to get the adequate volume as well as nutrients in their foods. The limitation in people’s income generation activities have led to poverty which then has led to insufficient food as well as nutrition intake. It was even observed that some people have to skip food for a day. So, with the data analysis and the respondents’ views, the research can easily conclude that poverty leads to hunger. But with the respondents’ view, hunger may not always lead to malnutrition as the people under poverty and hunger doesn’t think they are malnourished.