Analysis of the socio-economic determinants of household exposure to food insecurity characterized by meal deprivation in Senegal

Abstract Good health depends entirely on individuals getting the proper nutritional supplement so every human being remains healthy and balanced. However, this first basic need is not met for numerous families globally. Food supply shortages remain for a very large number of households. The ongoing nature of this problem raises key questions of how frequently families experience food insecurity and the extensive social and economic significance of such deprivation on a national and global level. The objective of this study is to analyze the social and economic determinants of household exposure to food insecurity characterized by meal deprivation in Senegal. In this study, multinomial logistic regression is used to identify factors associated with different degrees of food insecurity. Unlike a binary model, this approach distinguishes multiple levels of food deprivation intensity. The results robustly establish that the frequency of cash income shortages is the primary driver of food insecurity across all levels, with an effect that escalates significantly in more severe cases. While educational attainment provides a moderate but significant buffer against moderate food insecurity, broader national economic conditions only show a significant impact on severe situations. These findings underscore the necessity of a multi-tiered approach that integrates micro-level interventions (income support, education) with macroeconomic policies (stabilization, inclusive growth)