The Potential Contribution of Senior Citizens' Grant (SCG) towards Nutrition Outcomes in Older Persons' Households in Uganda

Abstract

The Senior Citizens' Grant (SCG) is a major social protection intervention in Uganda aimed at reducing income poverty, facilitating access to social services, building a foundation for productive livelihoods, and enabling older persons to live a life of security and dignity. This study sought to generate evidence on the contribution of the SCG towards nutrition outcomes among older persons' households in Uganda. A cross-sectional and mixed methods study design that employed both qualitative and quantitative approaches were used. The study found out that children in older persons households consumed only 2.16±0.67 meals a day; 50% of the households were severely food insecure; mean dietary diversity Scores for children was 11.0±6.40 and 9.3% of children 6-59 months were wasted. Study findings indicated that SCG did not contribute to household food security. In future, nutrition objectives should explicitly be included in the design of social protection programmes, using a multi-sectoral approach.