abstract: 'Background Food insecurity is a serious social and public health problem

  which is exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic especially in

  resource-poor countries such as Nepal. However, there is a paucity of

  evidence at local levels. This study aims to explore food insecurity

  among people from the disadvantaged community and low-income families

  during the COVID-19 pandemic in Province-2 of Nepal. Methods The

  semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted virtually among

  purposively selected participants (n = 41) from both urban and rural

  areas in eight districts of Province 2 in Nepal. All the interviews were

  conducted in the local language between July and August 2020. The data

  analysis was performed using thematic network analysis in Nvivo 12 Pro

  software. Results The results of this study are grouped into four global

  themes: i) Impact of COVID-19 on food security; ii) Food insecurity and

  coping strategies during the COVID-19 pandemic, iii) Food relief and

  emergency support during the COVID-19 pandemic, and iv) Impact of

  COVID-19 and food insecurity on health and wellbeing. Most participants

  in the study expressed that families from low socioeconomic backgrounds

  and disadvantaged communities such as those working on daily wages and

  who rely on remittance had experienced increased food insecurity during

  the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants used different forms of coping

  strategies to meet their food requirements during the pandemic.

  Community members experienced favouritism, nepotism, and partiality from

  local politicians and authorities during the distribution of food

  relief. The food insecurity among low-income and disadvantaged families

  has affected their health and wellbeing making them increasingly

  vulnerable to the COVID-19 infection. Conclusion Food insecurity among

  low-income and disadvantaged families was found to be a serious problem

  during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study suggests that the relief support

  plan and policies should be focused on the implementation of immediate

  sustainable food security strategies to prevent hunger, malnutrition,

  and mental health problems among the most vulnerable groups in the

  community.'
affiliation: 'Singh, DR (Corresponding Author), Purbanchal Univ, Asian Coll Adv Studies,
  Dept Publ Hlth, Lalitpur, Nepal.

  Singh, DR (Corresponding Author), Southeast Asia Dev Act Network SADAN, Res \& Innovat
  Sect, Lalitpur, Nepal.

  Singh, DR (Corresponding Author), Swadesh Dev Fdn SDF, Res Sect, Prov 2, Siraha,
  Nepal.

  Singh, Devendra Raj; Karki, Kshitij, Purbanchal Univ, Asian Coll Adv Studies, Dept
  Publ Hlth, Lalitpur, Nepal.

  Singh, Devendra Raj, Southeast Asia Dev Act Network SADAN, Res \& Innovat Sect,
  Lalitpur, Nepal.

  Singh, Devendra Raj, Swadesh Dev Fdn SDF, Res Sect, Prov 2, Siraha, Nepal.

  Sunuwar, Dev Ram, Armed Police Force Hosp, Dept Nutr \& Dietet, Kathmandu, Nepal.

  Shah, Sunil Kumar, Bagmati Welf Soc Nepal, Program Sect, Prov 2, Sarlahi, Nepal.

  Sah, Lalita Kumari, Canterbury Christ Church Univ, Fac Med Hlth \& Social Care,
  Canterbury, Kent, England.

  Sah, Rajeeb Kumar, Univ Huddersfield, Sch Human \& Hlth Sci, Dept Allied Hlth Profess
  Sports \& Exercise, Huddersfield, W Yorkshire, England.'
article-number: e0254954
author: Singh, Devendra Raj and Sunuwar, Dev Ram and Shah, Sunil Kumar and Sah, Lalita
  Kumari and Karki, Kshitij and Sah, Rajeeb Kumar
author-email: dsingh3797@gmail.com
author_list:
- family: Singh
  given: Devendra Raj
- family: Sunuwar
  given: Dev Ram
- family: Shah
  given: Sunil Kumar
- family: Sah
  given: Lalita Kumari
- family: Karki
  given: Kshitij
- family: Sah
  given: Rajeeb Kumar
da: '2023-09-28'
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0254954
files: []
issn: 1932-6203
journal: PLOS ONE
keywords-plus: HEALTH-CARE; CHALLENGES; INTERVIEWS
language: English
month: JUL 21
number: '7'
number-of-cited-references: '61'
orcid-numbers: 'Sah, Rajeeb Kumar/0000-0001-8430-5343

  Singh, Devendra Raj/0000-0003-1450-9476

  Sah, Lalita Kumari/0000-0002-4347-3970

  Karki, Kshitij/0000-0002-6039-8909'
papis_id: 3c0d52b2f43f5dbce1db96d969740b2b
ref: Singh2021foodinsecurity
researcherid-numbers: 'Karki, Kshitij/ABE-7737-2020

  Sah, Rajeeb Kumar/AAW-6654-2021

  Singh, Devendra Raj/R-2197-2019

  Sah, Rajeeb/ABD-1449-2021

  '
times-cited: '22'
title: 'Food insecurity during COVID-19 pandemic: A genuine concern for people from
  disadvantaged community and low-income families in Province 2 of Nepal'
type: article
unique-id: WOS:000678124300036
usage-count-last-180-days: '0'
usage-count-since-2013: '11'
volume: '16'
web-of-science-categories: Multidisciplinary Sciences
year: '2021'