WILLINGNESS TO PAY FOR SCHOOL FEEDING AMONG CAREGIVERS OF SCHOOL CHILDREN IN URBAN-RURAL COMMUNITY OF SOUTH-EAST NIGERIA

Abstract

Background: School feeding programs have been implemented in Nigeria to improve education outcomes and reduce hunger among school children. However, sustaining these programs remains a challenge. In Southeast Nigeria, urban-rural disparities in socioeconomic status, food security, and access to education exist, affecting caregivers' ability and willingness to pay for school feeding programs. Understanding the willingness to pay among caregivers in this region is crucial for designing sustainable school feeding programs. School feeding programme is a targeted social safety net that provides both educational and health benefits to the most vulnerable children, thereby increasing enrolment rates, reducing absenteeism, and improving food security at the household level. It enhances the diet and increases the energy and kilocalories available to a child. It targets micronutrient deficiencies, which are widespread among school-age children in developing countries and increase susceptibility to infection, leading to absenteeism and impaired learning capacity and cognition. Willingness to pay for school feeding is a potentiator to reversing the negative consequences of increasing susceptibility to infection, absenteeism, impaired learning, and malnutrition.

Methodology: This study was a comparative, cross-sectional descriptive study carried out in selected communities in Enugu State, South East Nigeria, involving households from four communities (two urban and two rural). The sample size was 422, and participants were selected using a multistage sampling technique. The questionnaire was adapted from the National Health Demographic Health Survey and was a pre-tested semi-structured interviewer-administered questionnaire in English language. Data were collated, assembled, and analysed using the International Business Machine (IBM) Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 23. Descriptive statistics as percentages and frequencies were presented in tables. The mean and standard deviation of parameters in each community were obtained, and statistical tests of association between dependent and independent variables were carried out, with the level of statistical significance set at P ≤ 0.05. Ethical approval was obtained from the Ethics Review Committee of Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital. Consents were obtained from traditional rulers and village heads before commencement of the study. All subjects had the right to withdraw at any time without explanation, and confidentiality was maintained throughout the study.

Results: Most of the respondents were female 262 (62.4%), while 158 (37.6%) were males. The majority had formal education 401 (95.48%), with 194 (46.19%) having completed tertiary education. Majority of respondents were household representatives 254 (60.5%). Regarding marital status, 371 (88.3%) were married, followed by 34 (8.1%) single parents. A total of 159 (37.9%) respondents were government employees, 113 (37%) were self-employed, and 70 (16.7%) were unemployed. In urban areas, 136 (65.07%) respondents were willing to pay for the school feeding program. Fifteen (7.17%) respondents in urban areas were willing to pay ₦9,000, compared to 1 (0.47%) in rural areas. For ₦6,000, 17 (8.13%) respondents were willing in urban areas and 2 (0.94%) in rural areas. The association between household position and willingness to pay was not statistically significant in urban areas (χ² = 2.54, p = 0.07) but was significant in rural areas (χ² = 26.26, p = 0.00). The association between gender and willingness to pay was statistically significant in rural areas, with females being the majority. In rural areas, age and level of education were also significantly associated with willingness to pay. Marital status was significantly associated with willingness to pay in urban areas (χ² = 6.35, p = 0.01). Willingness to pay ₦9,000 was significantly associated with level of education and major source of income in urban areas and with marital status in rural areas. Willingness to pay ₦6,000 was significantly associated with major source of income and marital status in urban areas, while willingness to pay ₦3,000 was significantly associated with level of education, major source of income, and marital status in urban areas. The relationship between willingness to pay and socioeconomic status was statistically significant across all socioeconomic groups (χ² = 16.93, p = 0.00). The mean yearly amount respondents were willing to pay was ₦2,053.35 in urban areas and ₦671.33 in rural areas. There was a positive correlation between willingness to pay and household headship, gender, age, and major source of income, while a negative correlation existed with number of children in primary school, having formal education, and highest level of education. The association between willingness to pay and gender was statistically significant (p = 0.046), as well as age (p = 0.027) and highest level of education (p = 0.000).

Conclusion: Willingness to pay for school feeding among caregivers of school children in urban and rural communities in Southeast Nigeria is a critical factor for ensuring the sustainability of school feeding programs. The findings indicate that caregivers value education and recognize the importance of nutrition in supporting their children’s learning outcomes. Although variations exist between urban and rural areas, caregivers generally demonstrate a willingness to contribute financially to school feeding programs, driven by the perceived benefits of improved nutrition and educational outcomes. However, policymakers and program implementers must consider the socioeconomic differences between urban and rural communities. Strategies such as flexible payment plans and community engagement may enhance willingness to pay and ensure long-term sustainability of school feeding programs. Understanding caregivers’ willingness to pay is therefore essential for designing effective and sustainable school feeding initiatives that support both educational and nutritional needs of school children in the region.