Food security, dietary diversity and health in artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) households in Ghana

To what extent artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) influences food security, health, and nutrition in rural households in Ghana remains an important question to be answered due to diverse and mixed conclusions surrounding the impact of ASM in Africa. Using data from the Ghana Living Standards Survey (GLSS 7), this research seeks to understand the relationship between ASM and food security, nutrition, and health in rural households in Ghana to contribute towards improved policy making. Also, this research explores how ASM affects women who are directly and indirectly engaged in ASM activities. A mixed-methods approach was employed to address the study objectives. Household-level data of 1,617 households from the GLSS 7 survey were mapped to areas with ASM operations. The quantitative analysis entailed the application of three linear regression models to evaluate the effects of ASM on food security, health, and nutrition. Key indicators of food security, health, and nutrition, along with other variables, were constructed from the GLSS 7 modules based on insights from relevant literature. For the qualitative component, in-depth interviews were conducted with 63 women respondents in one of the GLSS survey areas to gain additional insights into the effects of ASM on women. Issues related to the preconceived themes of gender, food security, health, and nutrition as well as how other socio-economic factors of female mine workers interact to shape their experiences, were analyzed through the contemporary lens of intersectionality in social theory. Results revealed that ASM is associated with lower levels of food security, health (proxied by absence due to illness, injury, or both), and nutrition outcomes while controlling for other socio-economic factors exerting varied and differential levels of influence on the dependent variables. Specifically, food security, health, and nutrition appear to be associated with land size, education, wealth, and household size, with larger land and education linked to improving food security, while ASM and urban living are associated with health and nutrition outcomes. Results from the qualitative study revealed that many women in ASM areas neglect their health needs and there also pertains to be limited understanding of female reproductive health issues. Even though ASM offers economic opportunities for women, it also exposes them to occupational health risks and socio-cultural challenges, such as menstruation-related taboos and gender disparities. Food security in ASM communities remains a critical concern. Economically, ASM enhances women's creditworthiness. However, due to the informal nature, the economic, financial, and social risks associated with ASM activities, it tends to limit women's access to formal loans. To promote sustainable livelihoods, it is essential to address the negative impacts of ASM on food security, health, and nutrition. Additionally, a deeper understanding of gender dynamics is crucial to fostering inclusion and diversity within the ASM sector. Although the GLSS 7 data identified ASM households in the sample, it lacked specific details that are essential to have a deeper understanding of the impact of ASM and may have underestimated its scale of impacts. Integrating localized ASM-specific data, and incorporation of ASM-focused information in GLSS modules and satellite imagery, are recommended to enable in-depth and explore ASM's macro- and micro-level impacts on food security, health, and nutrition as well as livelihoods of participating and/or non-participating households in ASM areas or its neighborhoods. Tailored policies should address the social, economic, and environmental impacts of ASM by promoting sustainable agriculture, alternative livelihoods, and land-use regulations that balance mining with food production. Additionally, strengthening nutrition, healthcare access, and gender-responsive policies will ensure better food security, health outcomes, and sustainable community development in ASM-affected areas.