The Association Between Urbanisation and Household Food Security in Nigeria

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Agricultural Economics
• Public Health

Background:

• Urbanization often leads to dietary shifts towards more expensive foods.
• Previous studies used limited binary indicators for urbanization.
• Assessing urbanization's impact on food security requires nuanced measurement.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between varying degrees of urbanization and household food security in Nigeria.
• To utilize satellite-based night-time light intensity as a continuous proxy for urbanization.
• To explore the nonlinear dynamics between urbanization and food security.

Main Methods:

• Employed satellite-based night-time light intensity data (US Air Force Defense Meteorological Satellites Programme) as a proxy for urbanization.
• Analyzed the association between night-light intensity and household food security in Nigeria.
• Investigated nonlinear relationships using higher polynomial terms of night-time light intensity.

Main Results:

• Night-time light intensity showed a positive association with household food security.
• A nonlinear relationship was observed between urbanization (night-light intensity) and household food security.
• Higher polynomial terms indicated complex interactions beyond a simple linear trend.

Conclusions:

• Satellite-derived night-time light intensity offers a consistent and objective measure of urbanization.
• Urbanization, as measured by night-time light, is linked to improved household food security in Nigeria.
• Findings suggest potential implications for maternal and child well-being due to urbanization-food security dynamics.