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From Stephen Howes on PNG: the hungry country
Hi David,
The questions have been used in many countries, so I wouldn't dismiss them so easily. Even if you do dismiss them, I wouldn't dismiss going without food for 24 hours. That one-third of the population says they have done that in the last year is very worrying, especially when we know, as pointed out in the blog, that three surveys have shown widespread deficiencies in calorific intake.
Yes, there are additional modules on malnutrition. See chs 10 and 11 of this report: https://www.dhsprogram.com/pubs/pdf/FR364/FR364.pdf. However, we wanted to challenge the prevailing assumption that there is no hunger in PNG, especially in rural PNG. Hence our focus on the worrying number who have gone for a whole day without eating.
From David Freedman on PNG: the hungry country
Hi Stephen, Manoj, thanks for highlighting an important issue. I agree that there is probably a false sense of complacency when it comes to assessments of food security and nutrition in PNG. However, the data that you presented doesn't shed much light on this. From my own limited experience visiting different parts of PNG I have seen the reality of real 'subsistence affluence' in some very remote areas and the contrast with the situation of people in urban / peri-urban settlements who are much more reliant on local markets and imported foods. Of course, these are just anecdotes - we need the data!
At a time when there is real discussion about the health benefits of periodic and intermittent fasting, missing a meal here or there is not something to worry about - it might actually be good for you. However, we should be worried about situations of chronic, or acute food insecurity and the pernicious effects that this can have on health and wellbeing. It should be possible to provide a much richer and more informative assessment of food consumption patterns and nutrition outcomes using data from the DHS and other sources. Is there a reason why you did not discuss anthropometric indicators, dietary diversity, breastfeeding practices, consumption of iron-rich foods, etc., etc.? Were these modules included in the DHS?
From Andreas Noreewec on PNG: the hungry country
As far as external validity is concerned, you should also present the population sample so that readers will know that your research fairly represent population of Papua New Guinea. Otherwise, your research data is biased and unreliable.
From Robin Leleka on Benefits from mining in Papua New Guinea – where do they go?
What are some benefits of Pogera mine in PNG.
From Alson on PNG: the hungry country
Nice work, should inform the author of their misunderstanding of our PNG culture. We are not the western way culture.
If they can’t understand what you just wrote, I don’t know what will.
From Darren on RSE COVID-19 responses, getting Pacific seasonal workers home
Is Png RSE workers who have worked on viticulture and horticulture in NZ 2019, will they be over haul again?
From Kupulu Mere on PNG: the hungry country
These sorts of smear studies & reporting has no place in PNG. So-called academic experts using their academic models and developmental yard sticks to brand this country a "hungry country" is absurd. No one goes hungry in PNG. If they found anyone, they could have rallied all the lazy people who don't want to work their naturally furtile lands where anything can grow. Load of rubbish. Compare that to india, Pakistan or even Australia...where citizens don't have direct and free access to aurable land to farm. That's where you will find a population going hungry and at a brink.
C'mon stop this nonsense please!
From Carla Cram on Development assistance in the news: don’t mention the aid budget
Thank you Stephen for this very useful analysis
From Stephen Howes on PNG: the hungry country