Household Food Insecurity: Serious Concerns for Child Development

Abstract Objectives The aim of the study was to evaluate whether maternal mental health and infant's diet mediate the association between Household Food Insecurity (HFI) and Early Child Development (ECD) using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). We hypothesized a priori that both maternal mental health and infant's diet would mediate the association between HFI and ECD. Methods A cross-sectional study was carried out with 474 mother-infant dyads at Primary Health Centers in the Federal District, Brazil. Mothers answered a questionnaire that evaluated variables through validated instruments. SEM analyses were conducted including the following observed variables: HFI, ECD, consumption of a healthy and diverse diet, presence of a partner in the household, wanted pregnancy and current breastfeeding. Latent variables were included to evaluate mental health (created from maternal depression, trait anxiety and state anxiety), poverty (created from maternal educational level, household per capita income and participation in the Brazilian cash transfer program) and infant health (created from preterm birth, hospitalization after birth and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit needed after birth). Results Poor maternal mental health mediated the relationship between HFI and ECD (β = –0.05), but a healthy and diverse diet was not a mediator in this relationship. Poverty was related to lower ECD scores directly (β = 0.21) and indirectly (β = 0.02). Not having a partner (β = 0.05) and having an unwanted pregnancy (β = 0.02) predicted indirectly lower ECD scores. Conclusions Poor maternal mental health mediates the relationship between HFI and ECD, and ECD is influenced by poverty, single motherhood and unwanted pregnancy through different pathways. Therefore, it is necessary that public policies and interventions that aim to promote an optimal ECD also approach these aspects. Longitudinal cohort studies are needed to determine causality and identify promising approaches to improve parenting skills and ECD outcomes in the context of HFI. Funding Sources This study was financed in part by the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - Brasil (CAPES) (Finance Code 001, CAPES scholarship Programa Doutorado Sanduíche no Exterior Process number 88,881.189710/2018–01).

Download Full-text

Impact of COVID-19 on child malnutrition, obesity in women and household food insecurity in underserved urban settlements in Sri Lanka: a prospective follow up study

Public Health Nutrition ◽

10.1017/s1368980021001841 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-24

Author(s):

Renuka Jayatissa ◽

Himali Herath ◽

Amila Gayan Perera ◽

Thulasika Thejani Dayaratne ◽

Nawmali Dhanuska De Alwis ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Sri Lanka ◽

Food Insecurity ◽

Child Malnutrition ◽

Nutrition Status ◽

Household Food Insecurity ◽

Follow Up Study ◽

Household Food ◽

Before And After ◽

Urban Settlements

Abstract Objectives: To determine changes and factors associated with child malnutrition, obesity in women and household food insecurity before and after the first wave of COVID-19 pandemic. Design: A prospective follow up study. Setting: In 2019, the baseline Urban Health and Nutrition Study (UHNS-2019) was conducted in 603 households, which were selected randomly from 30 clusters to represent underserved urban settlements in Colombo. In the present study, 35% of households from the UHNS-2019 cohort were randomly selected for repeat interviews, one year after the baseline study and 6 months after COVID-19 pandemic in Sri Lanka. Height/length and weight of children and women were re-measured, household food insecurity was reassessed, and associated factors were gathered through interviewer administered questionnaires. Differences in measurements at baseline and follow-up studies were compared. Participants: A total of 207 households, comprising 127 women and 109 children were included. Results: The current prevalence of children with wasting and overweight was higher in the follow-up study than at baseline UHNS-2019 (18.3%vs13.7%;p=0.26 and 8.3%vs3.7%;p=0.12 respectively). There was a decrease in prevalence of child stunting (14.7%vs11.9%;p=0.37). A change was not observed in overall obesity in women, which was around 30.7%. Repeated lockdown was associated with a significant reduction in food security from 57% in UHNS-2019 to 30% in the current study (p<0.001). Conclusions: There was an increase in wasting and overweight among children while women had a persistent high prevalence of obesity. This population needs suitable interventions to improve nutrition status of children and women to minimise susceptibility to COVID-19.

Download Full-text

Household food insecurity and health in a high migration area in rural Honduras

SSM - Population Health ◽

10.1016/j.ssmph.2021.100885 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 100885

Author(s):

Sanjeev Kumar ◽

Nicholas A. Christakis ◽

Rafael Pérez-Escamilla

Keyword(s):

Food Insecurity ◽

Household Food Insecurity ◽

Household Food ◽

High Migration

Download Full-text

Illicit Drug Use in Canada and Implications for Suicidal Behaviors, and Household Food Insecurity: Findings from a Large, Nationally Representative Survey

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18126425 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (12) ◽

pp. 6425

Author(s):

Nicola Luigi Bragazzi ◽

Dan Beamish ◽

Jude Dzevela Kong ◽

Jianhong Wu

Keyword(s):

Suicidal Ideation ◽

Drug Use ◽

Food Insecurity ◽

Drug Users ◽

Illicit Drug ◽

Illicit Drug Use ◽

Household Food Insecurity ◽

Household Food ◽

Suicidal Attempts ◽

Nationally Representative

Background and Aims: Illicit drug use is an ongoing health and social issue in Canada. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of illicit drug use and its implications for suicidal behaviors, and household food insecurity in Canada. Design: Cross-sectional population survey. Setting: Canada, using the 2015–2016 Canadian Community Health Survey, a nationally representative sample selected by stratified multi-stage probability sampling. Participants: A total of 106,850 respondents aged ≥ 12 years who had completed information on illicit drug use. Measurements: Illicit drug use was assessed through a series of questions about illicit drug use methods. Respondents who reported lifetime illicit drug use but no past-year use were considered to have prior illicit drug use. In this survey, illicit drug use included cannabis use. Findings: Overall, the prevalence of lifetime, past-year, and prior illicit drug use was 33.2% (9.8 million), 10.4% (3.1 million), and 22.7% (6.7 million), respectively. In models adjusting for sociodemographic covariates, prior illicit drug use was significantly associated with increased odds of past-year suicidal ideation (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 1.21, 95% CI 1.04–1.40), and plans (1.48, 1.15–1.91), and past-year household food insecurity (1.27, 1.14–1.41), and the odds were much higher among prior injecting drug users than prior non-injecting drug users. No significant correlation was found between prior illicit drug use and past-year suicidal attempts, but there was a strong association between past-year illicit drug use and past-year suicidal attempts. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that even after people have stopped taking illicit drugs, prior illicit drug use, especially for prior injecting drug use, continues to be associated with increased risks of subsequent suicidal ideation, and plans, and household food insecurity.

Download Full-text

Household Food Insecurity, Dietary Acculturation, and Obesity

Ecology of Food and Nutrition ◽

10.1080/03670244.2021.1928975 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 60 (3) ◽

pp. 273-275

Author(s):

Sunil K. Khanna

Keyword(s):

Food Insecurity ◽

Household Food Insecurity ◽

Dietary Acculturation ◽

Household Food

Download Full-text

A Food Insecurity Systematic Review: Experience from Malaysia

Nutrients ◽

10.3390/nu13030945 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (3) ◽

pp. 945

Author(s):

Norhasmah Sulaiman ◽

Heather Yeatman ◽

Joanna Russell ◽

Leh Shii Law

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Food Insecurity ◽

Coping Strategies ◽

Low Income ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Welfare Recipient ◽

Vulnerable Groups ◽

Household Food Security ◽

Household Food Insecurity ◽

Household Food

Living free from hunger is a basic human right. However, some communities still experience household food insecurity. This systematic literature review explored different aspects of household food insecurity in Malaysia including vulnerable groups, prevalence, risk factors, coping strategies, and the consequences of food insecurity. The review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. Thirty-three relevant articles were selected from scientific databases such as CINAHL, Pubmed and Google Scholar, scrutiny of reference lists, and personal communication with experts in the field. The prevalence of household food insecurity in Malaysia was unexpectedly reported as high, with affected groups including Orang Asli, low-income household/welfare-recipient households, university students, and the elderly. Demographic risk factors and socioeconomic characteristics included larger household, living in poverty, and low education. Coping strategies were practices to increase the accessibility of food in their households. Consequences of household food insecurity included psychological, dietary (macro- and micronutrient intakes), nutritional status, and health impacts. In conclusion, this review confirmed that household food insecurity in Malaysia continues to exist. Nevertheless, extensive and active investigations are encouraged to obtain a more holistic and comprehensive picture pertaining to household food security in Malaysia.

Download Full-text