
Ulbad Polycarpe TOUGAN
University of Parakou, BeninPresentation Title:
Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) occurrence, dietary behaviors, food accessibility and handling practices during SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in North Benin
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic had affected all food systems in West Africa. The first outbreak of this disease in Benin was reported by the government on the 16th of March, 2020. The current work aimed to determine the Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) occurrence, food accessibility and handling practices and the dietary behaviors during SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in Benin and the relationship between these components. Then, a systemic survey was undergone with 300 respondents in North-Benin. Data analyzes were performed using SAS software. A hierarchical cluster analysis based on the characteristics of the households and their food access, utilization and handling practices on the most significant components of AFC was then performed. It appears that hunger, hunger consequences and food insecurity level had been exacerbated by COVID-19. About food access during COVID-19, 80% of respondents found that their dietary needs were challenged by the restriction measures. This challenge affects infants as well as children, pregnant women, breastfeeding women, elderly people and people with a chronic disease. Price of food products had increased on the local market and limit the ability of 80% of household to acquire sufficient and safe food. The factorial correspondence analysis of the dietary behaviors and food handling practices during SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in Benin discriminated three groups of households corresponding to 3 types of dietary behaviors and food handling practices. The main NCDs reported were cardiovascular disease, diabetes and chronic lung illnesses. One Heath multi-sectorial action plans for food and nutrition security are needed to reduce the vulnerability of food systems and households to emerging infectious diseases.
Biography
TOUGAN Polycarpe Ulbad is a Professor (Maître de conferences) of nutrition and food science at the University of Parakou in Benin. He completed his PhD in food standards, quality control, and technology at the age of 27 years. He was a postdoctoral researcher from 2013 to 2017 at the laboratory of “Agro-food Product Quality and Security” of Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech/ University of Liège (Belgium). He is currently the Head of the Department of Nutrition and Food Science/ Faculty of Agronomy at the University of Parakou (Benin) and the Vice-Coordinator of the Program of Food Security and Nutrition of the African and Malagasy Council for Higher Education (CAMES). He has published 85 papers in reputed journals and 52 oral communications in the field of Nutrition, Food Security, and food safety. Furthermore, he is a Laureate of 6 Awards and Prizewinner of 8 research grants from ARES-CCD, HAAGRIM Project, and TWAS-UNESCO.