List experiment to measure food and water insecurity
Food and water insecurity are complex, multi-domain constructs. Given their known association with important health and mental health outcomes, accurate assessment of food and water insecurity in resource-limited settings is paramount. The purpose of this study is to use a list experiment methodology to assess the extent to which there is bias in conventional survey-based means of direct elicitation of food and water insecurity. The list experiment provides an indirect means to measure a particular construct of interest. It is hypothesized that social desirability may cause upward bias in conventional survey-based means of direct elicitation of food and water insecurity.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
OTHER
Masking
DOUBLE
Enrollment
1,553
Each version of the questionnaire includes a different number of true-false statements that study participants are asked to identify.
Mbarara University of Science and Technology
Mbarara, Uganda
RECRUITINGNo Food Due to Lack of Money
"In the last month, was there ever no food to eat in the house because the participant lacked money to buy more?" (single item, culturally adapted from the 3-item Household Hunger Scale of USAID's Household Food Insecurity Access Scale \[HFIAS\]; response options yes/no)
Time frame: Baseline (The experimental manipulation in this study has to do with which version of the survey the study participant receives, so the time frame for assessment is immediate even though participants are asked about the past month)
No Water Due to Difficulty Collecting
"In the last month, was there ever no water in the participant's house because it was too difficult to collect more?" (single item, culturally adapted to indicate water insecurity, paralleling the 3-item Household Hunger Scale of USAID's Household Food Insecurity Access Scale \[HFIAS\]; response options yes/no)
Time frame: Baseline (The experimental manipulation in this study has to do with which version of the survey the study participant receives, so the time frame for assessment is immediate even though participants are asked about the past month)
Going to Sleep Hungry
"In the last month, did the participant or one of their household members ever go to sleep hungry because there was not enough food?" (single item, culturally adapted from the 3-item Household Hunger Scale of USAID's Household Food Insecurity Access Scale \[HFIAS\]; response options yes/no)
Time frame: Baseline (The experimental manipulation in this study has to do with which version of the survey the study participant receives, so the time frame for assessment is immediate even though participants are asked about the past month)
Going to Sleep Thirsty
"In the last month, did the participant or one of their household members ever go to sleep thirsty because there was not enough water?" (single item, culturally adapted to indicate water insecurity, paralleling the 3-item Household Hunger Scale of USAID's Household Food Insecurity Access Scale \[HFIAS\]; response options yes/no)
Time frame: Baseline (The experimental manipulation in this study has to do with which version of the survey the study participant receives, so the time frame for assessment is immediate even though participants are asked about the past month)
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.
No Food for Entire Day
"In the last month, did the participant or one of their household members ever go an entire day and night without eating anything because there was not enough food?" (single item, culturally adapted from the 3-item Household Hunger Scale of USAID's Household Food Insecurity Access Scale \[HFIAS\]; response options yes/no)
Time frame: Baseline (The experimental manipulation in this study has to do with which version of the survey the study participant receives, so the time frame for assessment is immediate even though participants are asked about the past month)
Drink Unsafe Water
"In the last month, did the participant or one of their household members ever drink water that they thought might not be safe for their health?" (single item, culturally adapted to indicate water insecurity, developed specifically for this study; response options yes/no)
Time frame: Baseline (The experimental manipulation in this study has to do with which version of the survey the study participant receives, so the time frame for assessment is immediate even though participants are asked about the past month)