Prevalence and factors associated with food insecurity among women shellfishers across three selected estuarine sites in Ghana

Background Women shellfishers in Ghana are increasingly vulnerable to food insecurity due to their dependence on degraded estuarine ecosystems and limited livelihood alternatives. These women face compounding risks from environmental degradation, seasonal harvesting restrictions, and economic precarity. Despite their critical role in coastal food systems, their food security status remains poorly understood. This study examined the prevalence of, and factors associated with, food insecurity among women shellfishers across three estuarine sites in Ghana. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study from June to July 2021 among 504 women aged 15 to 49 years engaged in oyster harvesting, processing and retailing across the Densu, Narkwa Lagoon, and Whin estuaries in Ghana. Food insecurity was measured using the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale. Prevalence was compared across sites using Pearson’s chi-square test, and binary logistic regression was used to identify associated factors, with significance set at p < 0.05. Results Overall, 92.1% of women were food insecure: 78.6% severely, 11.1% moderately and 2.4% mildly. Food insecurity prevalence did not differ significantly across sites (Densu 93.5%, Narkwa 94.0%, Whin 87.7%; p = 0.081). After multivariable adjustment in the analytic sample ( n = 501), food insecurity was associated with residence at Densu compared with Whin (aOR = 2.98; 95% CI: 1.30–7.05; p = 0.011) and with being unmarried (aOR = 2.46; 95% CI: 1.07–6.15; p = 0.043) and was inversely associated with household asset score (aOR = 0.76; 95% CI: 0.59–0.98; p = 0.035). Oyster consumption was not associated with food insecurity (aOR = 0.95; 95% CI: 0.33–3.48; p = 0.935). Conclusion Food insecurity was prevalent among women shellfishers in coastal Ghana and was significantly associated with the Densu site (vs. Whin), being unmarried, and lower household asset ownership. Because the design was cross-sectional and the sites were purposively selected, these findings describe associations rather than causal or interventional effects and should inform the design and evaluation of ecosystem-sensitive support for coastal livelihoods.