Influence of Gender on the Utilization of Edible Insects for Food and Nutritional Security

In Western Kenya, insects have historically been consumed more as a delicacy than a primary nutritional source. With the growing popularity of entomophagy as an alternative protein and the challenges posed by climate change and declining food production, there is a renewed interest in edible insects as a sustainable and efficient protein solution. Notably, there are prevailing gendered views on insect consumption in these communities. For instance, while women and children have embraced this delicacy, many adult males have reservations. This study delved into gender dynamics around the consumption and production of edible insects, focusing on Bungoma County—a region with a longstanding tradition of insect consumption. Given the scarcity of literature on this subject, the research aimed to deepen the understanding of how gender roles, knowledge levels, and decision-making power influence the use of insects for nutrition and food security. The main research objective was to study the influence of gender in using edible insects for food and nutritional security. A mixed-method research design that combined quantitative and qualitative methods was used to examine the cultural and gender- related factors affecting edible insect use in Bungoma County, providing robust insights for policy interventions to improve food and nutrition security in the region. Data was collected from 384 Bungoma farming households, constituting 78% of the County's farming demographic. The data was collected using questionnaires, interviews, and purposive sampling techniques. Descriptive analysis, the Chi-square test of associations, and the Kruskal-Wallis H test were used in the study, whose findings were presented in tables and figures. Key findings revealed that while gender itself had no significant influence on the utilization of edible insects for food and nutrition security, gender influenced decision-making played a crucial role in their utilization. Gender influenced knowledge was also found to significantly influence the utilization of edible insects for food and nutrition security. The study’s findings underscore the need for community awareness programs to alter perceptions of insects as complements to diets. From the results, it is recommendable that the remaining counties ensure accessible nutritional information and prioritization of gender-inclusive approaches in promoting entomophagy, even though only Bungoma County was studied in this research. Keywords: Entomophagy, Edible Insects, Food Security, Gender, Gender Roles, Utilization, Decision-Making