Self Assessment Questions (SAQs) for Study Session 8
Now that you have completed the study session, you can assess how well you have achieved its Learning Outcomes by answering these questions. Write your answers on your study diary and discuss them with your Tutor at the next Study Support meeting. You can check your answers with the Notes on the Self Assessment Questions at the end of the Module.
SAQ 8.1 (tests Learning Outcomes 8.1, 8.2 and 8.3)
Why might household food insecurity exist even when there is enough food available?
Answer
Availability of food is only one aspect of food security. People must also be able to access the food and then make it into something that can be eaten.
SAQ 8.2 (tests Learning Outcomes 8.1, 8.2 and 8.3)
- a.Who are the people in your community who are most vulnerable to chronic food insecurity?
- b.What other groups in your community are vulnerable to acute food insecurity?
Answer
- a.Who is the most vulnerable to chronic food insecurity will depend on whether you live in a rural or an urban community.
- b.You will probably have noted that the additional groups vulnerable to acute food insecurity are those affected by sudden shocks like drought or a rise in food prices (look back at Table 8.1 if you need to see the range of vulnerable groups).
SAQ 8.3 (tests Learning Outcomes 8.3 and 8.5)
Identify three possible causes of food insecurity in your community.
Answer
You may well think of many causes of food insecurity in your community. However, try to choose three that you think are the most important and be ready to discuss the reasons for your choice with your Tutor.
SAQ 8.4 (tests Learning Outcomes 8.4, 8.6 and 8.7)
If people start to leave an area each day to look for work, what stage of the coping strategy is this?
Answer
If people are leaving their area each day to look for work, this is a stage 2 coping strategy. Once people sell land or livestock they are putting their futures at risks, so will leave this until they have tried all other coping strategies.
SAQ 8.5 (tests Learning Outcomes 8.5, 8.8 and 8.9)
- a.Why is food insecurity such an important issue for Ethiopia?
- b.Is your community in an area that is likely to have food insecurity? Give reasons for your answer.
Answer
According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation, Ethiopia is one of the countries where more than 30% of the population is insecure. A child’s body responds to chronic hunger by decreasing in size (stunting). This results in poor physical growth, mental development, affecting socioeconomic development. It also results in more illness and higher death rates in children and adults.
The greatest food insecurity is in the north and east of the country.
SAQ 8.6 (tests Learning Outcomes 8.6, 8.7, 8.8 and 8.9)
What role do women have to play in Ethiopia’s Food Security Strategy?
Answer
Women play a crucial role in agriculture and marketing of produce; they are also key to controlling population growth and to controlling HIV.
SAQ 8.7 (tests Learning Outcome 8.8)
Imagine you are a Health Extension Practitioner living in a community where there has been a severe drought for three years.
- a.Describe who are likely to be the most vulnerable people in that community and why.
- b.What strategies might be used to support these vulnerable people?
Answer
- a.The most vulnerable people in your community are likely to be very young children, pregnant and breastfeeding mothers, the elderly, orphans and disabled people
- b.Strategies to help these groups of people include selective feeding programmes, either targeted supplementary programmes or blanket supplementary programmes.
Summary of Study Session 8