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Nutrition security, livelihoods and HIV/AIDS: implications for research among farm worker households in South Africa

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2007

S Lemke
S Lemke*
Affiliation:
Centre for International Development and Environmental Research, Section Nutrition Security, Justus-Liebig University Giessen, Otto-Behaghel-Strasse 10, D-35394 , Giessen, Germany, and Visiting Research Fellow, Nutrition Department, Faculty of Health Sciences, North West University, Potchefstroom Campus, Private Bag X6001, Potchefstroom 3520 South, Africa
*
*Corresponding author: Email stefanie.lemke@zeu.uni-giessen.de
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Abstract

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Objective

Previous research on the health transition and nutrition security in black South African households revealed the need for further research among farm workers who belong to the poorest population categories. This article gives an overview of the link between nutrition security, livelihoods and HIV/AIDS in South Africa, drawing conclusions for research among farm worker households.

Design and setting: A literature review, observations on farms and interviews with farmers and key informants were carried out in 2003 and 2004. Peer examination was done with South African and German researchers from the natural and social sciences.

Results

Farm workers face poverty and nutrition insecurity and continue to be a tragically underserved population group, also in terms of research. There is furthermore a lack of in-depth research on underlying causes for nutrition security in South Africa and on the link with livelihoods, poverty and HIV/AIDS. Micro-social qualitative research from the household and gender perspective is required, as valid data on households, their internal dynamics and therefore the reflection of social realities are missing. A multidisciplinary research approach based on a new conceptual framework was developed to address the situation of farm worker households.

Conclusion

The outlined research contributes to existing programmes on farms in the North West Province, with the findings being valid also for other parts of southern Africa facing poverty, nutrition insecurity and HIV/AIDS.

Keywords

Farm worker householdsSouth AfricaNutrition securityLivelihoodsGenderHIV/AIDS
Type
Research Article
Information
Public Health Nutrition , Volume 8 , Issue 7 , October 2005 , pp. 844 - 852
Copyright
Copyright © The Authors 2005

References

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