From Access to Adaptation: Household Food Dynamics Under COVID-19 Lockdowns in Tygerberg, Western Cape, South Africa

The COVID-19 pandemic prompted governments to implement lockdowns and social distancing measures to curb transmission, which, in South Africa, disrupted economic activity, reduced household income, and challenged the sustainability of household food access. This study assessed food accessibility, availability, dietary diversity, food security status, and coping strategies among households in the Tygerberg region during lockdowns. A cross-sectional design was employed using a researcher-administered questionnaire to collect sociodemographic and household data. Food security was assessed using the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale and the Household Food Security Survey Module, dietary diversity using a 24 h recall, and coping strategies through a standardized tool. Among the 432 households surveyed, 62% reported reduced income during lockdowns, while approximately 80% experienced food insecurity in the preceding 30 days and 72% over the past year. Dietary diversity was low in 47.3% of households, consuming fewer than seven food groups, and medium in 46.4%, consuming eight to eleven food groups. Common coping strategies included purchasing cheaper, less preferred foods, skipping meals, and reliance on social relief measures such as food parcels and the Social Relief of Distress grant. Overall, while food availability remained relatively stable, economic access emerged as the principal constraint, undermining dietary quality and household resilience and highlighting the need for income-responsive and socially sustainable food security interventions to strengthen urban food system resilience during prolonged socio-economic shocks.