Exploring the Link between Adaptive Capacity and Nutritional Needs of Low-Income Households in Karaga District of the Northern Region of Ghana

Abstract

Climate change is projected to have an adverse impact on the health and wellbeing of households especially in sub-Saharan Africa. This could be through disruptions in food production and distribution systems leading to food insecurity or the proliferation of diseases vectors both of which contributes to the prevalence of malnutrition. The high prevalence of stunting in the northern parts of Ghana despite various nutrition and health interventions by government and other development partners over the years has led to the need to find out how the ability of households to adapt to climate change and variability affects its nutritional needs. Using the sustainable livelihoods framework, the study aimed at exploring the link between adaptive capacity and household nutritional needs of low-income households in Karaga district using stunting in children as an indicator of nutritional needs. The study employed a quantitative design with a survey of two-hundred and eighty-eight households with children under five years old, ten key informant interviews and a five-expert ranking of indicators. A binary logistic model was used to study the link between adaptive capacity and household nutritional needs. The study finds a significant inverse relationship between adaptive capacity and household nutritional needs. The study therefore recommends the strengthening of education on best practices for infant and young child feeding practices, improvements in non-formal, technical and vocational training and the establishment of an irrigation scheme in Karaga to help increase the adaptive capacity of households and reduce the prevalence of stunting.