Description:

Join the Program of African Studies for our weekly lunch and lecture.

Speaker: Sera Young, Anthropology, Northwestern

Title: Food and Water Insecurity in East Africa: What We Know, What We Don't, and Why It Matters

Abstract:

The first 1,000 days, i.e. the year prior to delivery and first two years of life, is among the most critical times for mothers and children. Yet, in this period, the physical and psycho-social needs of women and their infants are often not met. Food insecurity is a common manifestation of physical and psycho-social needs not being met, but its impacts in the first 1,000 days are not well understood.

In this talk, I will discuss my research on food insecurity among pregnant and lactating women of mixed HIV status in western Kenya. I will describe the perceived causes of food insecurity, as well as the surprisingly far-reaching consequences of food insecurity. I will conclude by describing how listening to participants’ experiences with food insecurity led to a new area of research: household water insecurity.