Food Purchase Practices and Their Contribution Towards Food Accessibility in Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa: A Case Study of Imbali Township

The study evaluated household food purchasing practices and their contribution towards household food accessibility and assessed social and economic determinants in selected households from Imbali Township in Pietermaritzburg, Kwa-Zulu Natal province. The study design was cross-sectional, using qualitative techniques. The participant information form was used to gather information on household socio-economic status, demographics and food accessibility. In-depth interviews helped to gain information and elaborated on food purchasing practices and overall experience of purchasing locally. By use of observation lists, information on food types and quantities purchased was obtained. Many of the participants were employed, highly educated and mostly reliant on formal salaries as their main source of income. Determinants of food purchasing practices were identified as purchasing power, educational level, convenience, store hygiene, safety in reaching food suppliers, and transport. Household purchasing frequency and food expenditure depended on household income level, household size and the time at which formal salaries were received. Factors that promoted food accessibility included: higher physical accessibility to food supply, electricity and water access, greater number of rooms in the households promoting greater disposal of food storage space, vegetable garden ownership, and higher income level.