Gendered determinants of food insecurity in ongoing regional conflicts, North and South Kivu, the Democratic Republic of Congo

Abstract

Background: Food insecurity remains a major concern worldwide. In North and South Kivu provinces, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, repeated wars and gender-based violence exacerbate the situation. However, little is known about the determinants of food insecurity in the region. Objective: This study analyzed the gendered determinants of food insecurity in North and South Kivu in the Democratic Republic of Congo, a region of ongoing civil conflict. Methods: 1754 women were included in a cross-sectional study. Multilevel ordinal logistic regression was used to identify household-level determinants of food insecurity. Results: The poorest households were five times more likely to be food insecure (OR = 5.66, 95% CI 3.74–8.55). Women’s participation in decision-making about resource allocation decreased the risk for household food insecurity (OR = 0.68, 95% CI 0.57–0.87), while higher tolerance to gender-based violence increased the risk of food insecurity (OR = 1.29, 95% CI 1.05–1.54). Conclusion: Involving empowered women in decision-making about resource allocation and actions to reduce gender-based violence could help mitigate food insecurity.