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Abstract
Background: Over 65% of Mozambicans do not have two daily balanced meals, access to potable water, basic sanitation, or housing. Around 43% of under-five children in the country are experiencing chronic malnutrition. Poor and disadvantaged populations in Mozambique, particularly low-income women, are in severe crisis and facing economic hardships, causing other complex well-being challenges. Including low-income families in mainstream financial services could enhance their wealth creation, health well-being, and quality of life. However, few studies have examined the benefits of community-based financial inclusion in targeting household hunger in rural settings, including Mozambique. This study examines the direct effects of Village Savings and Loan Group (VSLG), an informal community-based financial inclusion strategy, on household food availability. The study also tests the indirect effects through the intervening role of enhanced household assets ownership and reducing intrahousehold challenges such as the risk of intimate partner violence (IPV).
Methods: The study used a posttest-only quasi-experimental design and a sample of 205 women randomly selected from three sub-villages in Mozambique’s Sofala province. The VSLG treatment group comprised 105 participants and the comparison group consisted of 100 non-participants. Structural Equations Modeling (SEM) examined the link between VSLG participation and HHS through the mediating role of HA and IPV, controlling for demographic and socioeconomic characteristics. The outcome, Household Hunger Score (HHS), was a three-item measure of food availability in the household originally measured on a Likert scale and summed to form a total score ranging from 0 to 6 (Cronbach's α = 0.86). The first mediator, Household Asset (HA), was measured with a 20-item scale (e.g., land and equipment?), and a summative score was used. The second mediator, IPV, was measured using a 6-item question on the IPV experience over the past three days, with a binary response scale of "Yes' ' and "No”.
Results: The SEM result showed that participation in VSLG was associated with an increase in household assets (β =.55, p <.05), and more household assets were, in turn, associated with food insecurity (β =-0.92, p <0.001). Participation in VSLG was associated with a decrease in IPV experiences (β =-.29, p <.001), and higher IPV experience was in turn associated with food insecurity (β =.24, p <0.05). The total effects of the participation in VSLG on food insecurity and indirect impact through two mediators are statistically significant. The model explained 26% of the variance in HHS and indicated acceptable model fit indices.
Conclusion: The findings of this study underscore the potential of community-based financial capability interventions, such as VSLG, to enhance food availability. The positive effects on asset ownership and interpersonal behaviors among low-income women in Mozambique are promising. These results offer a compelling strategy for policymakers and development experts to consider in their efforts to address food insecurity and economic hardships in the country.