Table 2 Overview of frequencies of various strategies used along the continuum based on 19 Focus Group discussions
From: Food coping strategies in northern Ghana. A socio-spatial analysis along the urban–rural continuum
Strategy | Urban | Periurban | Rural | Averages | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Nyohani | Gumani | Junshegu | Changli | Bulpela | Kanvili | Kogni | Bukpamu | Jantu Kpangu | Zobogu | Dundo | Pong Tamale | Buhijaa | Parashe Naya | Zosali | Yobsheri | Digma | Sobuanaa Kura | Dijeo | Urban average index | Periurban average index | Rural average index | Total average index | |
a) Less preferred | 7 | 0.5 | 28 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 7 | 4.5 | 21 | 14 | 7 | 4.5 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 28 | 7 | 7 | 12.9 | 10.3 | 10.8 | 11.3 |
b) Borrow | 14 | 6 | 2 | 1.5 | 2 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 1.5 | 6 | 1.5 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 5.3 | 4.9 | 3.5 | 4.6 |
c) Credit | 14 | 1 | 2 | 4.5 | 18 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 4.5 | 2 | 6 | 1.5 | 0 | 4.5 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 6.6 | 3.7 | 5.1 | 5.1 |
d) Wild plants | 1 | 1 | 21 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4.5 | 3 | 21 | 28 | 0 | 6 | 3 | 14 | 14 | 18 | 14 | 28 | 3.8 | 8.9 | 15.2 | 9.3 |
e) Hunt | 1 | 13.5 | 4.5 | 0 | 0 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 9 | 9 | 4.5 | 3 | 0 | 0.5 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 | 3.9 | 4.4 | 2.3 | 3.6 |
f) Immature crops | 1 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0 | 13.5 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 9 | 2 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 0 | 7 | 14 | 1,5 | 3 | 14 | 3 | 3 | 3.3 | 3.6 | 6.4 | 4.4 |
g) Seed stock | 21 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 1.5 | 0 | 4.5 | 0 | 13.5 | 28 | 0 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 18 | 6.4 | 7.4 | 5.7 | 6.6 |
h) Send children | 21 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4.5 | 0 | 13.5 | 4.5 | 0 | 0 | 1.5 | 0 | 6 | 4.5 | 0 | 6 | 3.5 | 3.2 | 3.0 | 3.2 |
j) Limit portion | 0 | 1 | 28 | 0 | 21 | 7 | 3 | 9 | 1.5 | 14 | 14 | 0 | 2 | 14 | 14 | 7 | 14 | 7 | 7 | 9.5 | 6.2 | 10.5 | 8.6 |
k) Restrict adult intake | 4 | 0.5 | 21 | 0 | 13.5 | 13.5 | 1.5 | 9 | 1.5 | 0 | 28 | 6 | 18 | 4.5 | 28 | 18 | 18 | 7 | 21 | 8.8 | 9.1 | 16.1 | 11.2 |
m) Buy prepared food | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 9 | 4.5 | 3 | 28 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 21 | 4.5 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0.0 | 8.1 | 4.8 | 4.5 |
n) Reduce no of meals | 2 | 1.5 | 21 | 0 | 4.5 | 14 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 13.5 | 0 | 9 | 1.5 | 9 | 4.5 | 13.5 | 14 | 21 | 7.2 | 5.8 | 10.6 | 7.7 |
o) Skip whole day | 6 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.9 |
p) Sell animals | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 3 | 1.5 | 3 | 3 | 0.5 | 6 | 1 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 1 | 0.5 | 1.8 | 1.6 | 1.3 |
q) Sell charcoal/firewood | 0 | 0 | 1.5 | 0 | 0 | 0.5 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 0 | 0 | 4.5 | 3 | 1.5 | 0 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 2.4 | 2.3 | 1.7 |
Score | 92 | 28.5 | 141.5 | 23 | 93.5 | 67.5 | 54 | 87.5 | 44.5 | 113.5 | 176 | 19.5 | 65.5 | 66.5 | 133.5 | 77 | 117.5 | 74 | 120.5 | 74.3 | 80.1 | 98.2 | 84 |