War, "Takaya," and the New Epidemiology of Deprivation: Nutritional Stress and Chronic Disease in Sudan
1
KURA Research Center, Kasaala, Sudan
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
The conflict in Sudan has decimated food supply chains, forcing a transition from balanced nutrition to "survival diets." In response, Takaya (communal street kitchens) have emerged as the primary source of sustenance, offering monotonous, legume-heavy meals. While these kitchens prevent mass starvation, the public health consequences of this sudden nutritional shift characterized by reduced meal frequency and high plant-based purine intake remain poorly understood in the context of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs).
OBJECTIVE:
To evaluate the association between war-induced dietary patterns, specifically the meal frequency and composition provided by communal kitchens, and the exacerbation of chronic inflammatory conditions in Khartoum’s Western Nile region.
METHODS:
A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at Al Banjadeed Teaching Hospital (2023–2024). Data from 386 patients were collected using structured questionnaires focusing on socioeconomic status, food source (Takaya vs. private), meal frequency, dietary composition, and lab tests. Statistical analysis via SPSS 27 utilized chi-square tests and multiple linear regression to identify nutritional predictors of disease flares.
RESULTS:
Most participants (62.4%) were from low-income households. Severe nutritional insecurity was evident, with 47.4% restricted to a single daily meal. Dietary reliance on lentils (79.8%) and beans (54.4%) was nearly universal. A significant association was found between the Takaya-style diet (combined beans and lentils) and increased disease prevalence (p = 0.028). Notably, traditional risk factors like alcohol and gender were non-significant. Instead, the synergy of dehydration, reduced meal frequency, and legume-based monotony significantly increased the severity of inflammatory flares.
CONCLUSIONS:
The Sudanese conflict has inverted the NCD paradigm, shifting inflammatory triggers from "affluence" to "deprivation." The Takaya system, while a vital humanitarian lifeline, facilitates a nutritional monotony that exacerbates metabolic imbalances. These findings underscore the urgent need for humanitarian "survival rations" to be supplemented with hydration support and micronutrients to mitigate the rising NCD burden in global conflict zones.
The conflict in Sudan has decimated food supply chains, forcing a transition from balanced nutrition to "survival diets." In response, Takaya (communal street kitchens) have emerged as the primary source of sustenance, offering monotonous, legume-heavy meals. While these kitchens prevent mass starvation, the public health consequences of this sudden nutritional shift characterized by reduced meal frequency and high plant-based purine intake remain poorly understood in the context of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs).
OBJECTIVE:
To evaluate the association between war-induced dietary patterns, specifically the meal frequency and composition provided by communal kitchens, and the exacerbation of chronic inflammatory conditions in Khartoum’s Western Nile region.
METHODS:
A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at Al Banjadeed Teaching Hospital (2023–2024). Data from 386 patients were collected using structured questionnaires focusing on socioeconomic status, food source (Takaya vs. private), meal frequency, dietary composition, and lab tests. Statistical analysis via SPSS 27 utilized chi-square tests and multiple linear regression to identify nutritional predictors of disease flares.
RESULTS:
Most participants (62.4%) were from low-income households. Severe nutritional insecurity was evident, with 47.4% restricted to a single daily meal. Dietary reliance on lentils (79.8%) and beans (54.4%) was nearly universal. A significant association was found between the Takaya-style diet (combined beans and lentils) and increased disease prevalence (p = 0.028). Notably, traditional risk factors like alcohol and gender were non-significant. Instead, the synergy of dehydration, reduced meal frequency, and legume-based monotony significantly increased the severity of inflammatory flares.
CONCLUSIONS:
The Sudanese conflict has inverted the NCD paradigm, shifting inflammatory triggers from "affluence" to "deprivation." The Takaya system, while a vital humanitarian lifeline, facilitates a nutritional monotony that exacerbates metabolic imbalances. These findings underscore the urgent need for humanitarian "survival rations" to be supplemented with hydration support and micronutrients to mitigate the rising NCD burden in global conflict zones.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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