Food Security Awareness Program in Urban Haiti
Keywords:
food security, urban Haiti, awareness programs, nutrition education, community intervention, food insecurityAbstract
Urban Haiti faces severe food insecurity affecting nearly half of its population, driven by armed gang violence, economic collapse, and climate-related disruptions. This study examines the implementation and effectiveness of food security awareness programs in Haiti's urban centers, particularly Port-au-Prince. Through a mixed-methods approach involving 450 participants across five urban communes, data were collected using surveys, focus group discussions, and semi-structured interviews over a six-month period. Results indicate that awareness programs significantly improved participants' knowledge of nutrition (65% increase), food budgeting skills (58% increase), and access to available food resources (72% increase). Four key themes emerged: community mobilization strategies, nutritional education effectiveness, resource accessibility challenges, and sustainable intervention models. Significant barriers included ongoing violence, limited program awareness, and cultural incongruence in food messaging. The study demonstrates that culturally-responsive, community-engaged food security awareness programs can enhance food literacy and resource utilization even in crisis contexts.
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Copyright (c) 2023 Jean Baptiste, Marie Laurent (Author)
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