Evaluating the challenges of food access and the factors influencing it among residents of peri-urban areas in Ray Nkonyeni Municipality, Kwazulu-Natal Province, South Africa

This research examines the assessment of food insecurity and its determinants among different provinces in South Africa. A quantitative study design was conducted to assess food insecurity status and its determinants in a peri-urban area, namely Ray Nkonyeni Local Municipality in KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa. Data was collected from 360 systematic, randomly selected households. The results showed that 71.00% of these were food insecure. Food insecurity was more pronounced among older, unemployed, less educated, and low-income respondents. Households with an income of between R4001 and R5000 (adjusted odds ratio (AOR)=0.05; 95% confidence interval (95% CI):0.01–0.41) and those with an income ≥R5000 (AOR=0.01; 95% CI:0.00–0.11) had lower odds of experiencing food insecurity compared with those with an income of <R1000. Households with more than one source of income (AOR=2.36; 95% CI:1.07–5.17) were more likely to experience food insecurity than those with a single source of income. Households that participated in food gardening had higher odds (AOR=3.40; 95% CI: 1.45–7.95) of being food insecure than those that did not participate in food gardening. Food insecurity was very high in this peri-urban area. Food insecurity was associated with household income, number of income sources, and participation in food gardening. Policymakers and other stakeholders should focus on these groups with a view to improving household food security.