TITLE:
An Analysis of the Changes in Livelihood, Income Structure, and Food Security during COVID-19 among Female Household Workers in Rajshahi
AUTHORS:
Nazia Hossain
KEYWORDS:
COVID-19, Food Security, Female Household Workers, Food Consumption Score (FCS), Household Dietary Diversity Score (DDS), Coping Strategies
JOURNAL NAME:
Food and Nutrition Sciences,
Vol.17 No.9,
September
20,
2026
ABSTRACT: The outbreak of COVID-19 posed a serious threat to the lives of low-income people as it snatched their livelihood, income, and food security. Female household workers are a low-income group in Bangladesh. Most of them lost their jobs for fear of being affected. Similar conditions were also seen in Rajshahi, one of the divisional cities in Bangladesh. During the pandemic, educational institutions were closed. Many female household workers working in hostels and houses lost their jobs. This study aims to identify changes in their livelihood, income, and food security status during COVID-19, compared with the period before COVID-19. To this end, the study selected 30 female household workers from five selected hostels and explored the relationship between their income patterns and their households’ food security status before and during COVID-19. A questionnaire survey was conducted to capture changes in food patterns, livelihoods, and income structure. Furthermore, coping mechanisms to address the crisis during the pandemic were identified and prioritized through rank scoring. Food Consumption Score (FCS) and Household Dietary Diversity Score (HDDS) were calculated to explore food consumption and dietary patterns of their households. In this study, these two scores were applied as indicators of food security. Moreover, income and livelihood were linked to the food security pattern. The results show that the income of household workers was significantly reduced during COVID-19. Their food collection from the workplace was also interrupted, which increased the burden on their limited income. As a result, the FCS and HDDS revealed constant consumption and less diversity during the pandemic.