This study sought to examine the relationship between race, family structure and gender on one
hand, and food deprivation as a measure of poverty on the other hand in South Africa. Main
effects were found for race, residence, presence of children and adults, while interaction effect
was found for race and family structure. Whites, and to a large extent Indians/Asians, were
less likely to experience food deprivation, while black Africans and coloureds were most likely
to experience food deprivation. Couple-headed households were the least likely to experience
food deprivation, compared to households headed by either male or female. Finally, the presence
of children and the elderly in a household was negatively associated with food deprivation, a
finding which supports the view that mos