scholarly journals Prevalence and predictors of food insecurity among low-income households in Los Angeles County

2004 ◽  
Vol 7 (6) ◽  
pp. 791-794 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bruce W Furness ◽  
Paul A Simon ◽  
Cheryl M Wold ◽  
Johanna Asarian-Anderson
Keyword(s):  
Los Angeles ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Los Angeles County ◽  
Short Form ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Household Food Security ◽  
Poverty Level ◽  
History Of ◽  
Low Income Households

AbstractObjectives:To assess the prevalence and identify the predictors of food insecurity among households in Los Angeles County with incomes below 300% of the federal poverty level.Methods:The Six-Item Short Form of the US Department of Agriculture's Household Food Security Scale was used as part of a 1999 county-wide, population-based, telephone survey.Results:The prevalence of food insecurity was 24.4% and was inversely associated with household income. Other independent predictors of food insecurity included the presence of children in the household (odds ratio (OR) 1.7, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.2–2.3) and a history of homelessness in the past five years (OR 5.6, 95% CI 3.4–9.4).Conclusion:Food insecurity is a significant public health problem among low–income households in Los Angeles County. Food assistance programmes should focus efforts on households living in and near poverty, those with children, and those with a history of homelessness.

scholarly journals Food Insecurity and Associated Factors in the Portuguese Population

2014 ◽  
Vol 35 (4) ◽  
pp. S395-S402 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luísa Álvares ◽  
Teresa F. Amaral
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Short Form ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
National Health Survey ◽  
Household Food Security ◽  
Portuguese Population ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Socioeconomic And Demographic Factors

Background The burden of food insecurity in Portugal, and the socioeconomic and demographic factors that are related to this condition, are unknown. Objective To evaluate the frequency of food insecurity and to identify its associated characteristics in the Portuguese population. Methods Data from 3,552 heads of family respondents of the 2005/06 Portuguese National Health Survey were analyzed in a cross-sectional study. Food insecurity was evaluated with the use of the US Department of Agriculture Household Food Security Survey Module 6-Item Short Form. Chi-square tests and multivariate logistic regression models were conducted. Significance was indicated at p < .05. Results Among the respondents, 16.5% were food insecure and 3.5% had very low food security. The odds of being food insecure were highest for women (OR, 1.51; 95% CI, 1.20 to 1.91), smokers (OR, 1.56; 95% CI, 1.20 to 2.02), younger people (OR, 2.54; 95% CI, 1.69 to 3.80), unemployed people (OR, 3.04; 95% CI, 2.01 to 4.60), those with lower education (OR, 7.98; 95% CI, 4.73 to 13.49), and those with lower income (OR, 6.27; 95% CI, 4.23 to 9.30). Conclusions The present study explored for the first time the burden of food insecurity in Portugal, revealing that it was highly prevalent, affecting one in six Portuguese citizens. Low education and low income were the main factors associated with food insecurity.

scholarly journals The Impacts of Climatic and Non-climatic Factors on Household Food Security: Study on Malaysian East Coast Poor

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Md. Mahmudul Alam ◽  
Chamhuri Siwar ◽  
Abu N.M. Wahid
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Climatic Factors ◽  
Climatic Changes ◽  
Household Food Security ◽  
Household Food Insecurity ◽  
Personal Factors ◽  
Household Food ◽  
Low Income Households

Sustainable food security at household level is a national concern in many countries. The reasons for household food insecurity include social, economic, political, and personal factors as well as climatic changes and its outcomes. This research aims at finding out the linkage of the factors of climatic changes, non-climatic factors and household resiliencies with the level of household food security among the poor and low income households in Malaysia. This study is based on primary data that were collected in Jul-Oct 2012 through a questionnaire survey on 460 poor and low income households from the Pahang, Kelantan, and Terengganu States of Malaysia. The sample was selected from E-Kasih poor household database based on cluster random sampling technique. Initially the study measures household food security according to the USAID-HFIA model, and ran ordinal regressions under the logit and probit models. This study finds that household food insecurity is not only linked with social and economic factors, but also significantly linked with the climatic factors. Therefore, the food security programs need to be integrated with the adaption programs for climatic change.

scholarly journals Factors related to household food insecurity in the Republic of Korea

2011 ◽  
Vol 14 (6) ◽  
pp. 1080-1087 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kirang Kim ◽  
Mi Kyung Kim ◽  
Young-Jeon Shin ◽  
Sang Sun Lee
Keyword(s):  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Food Assistance ◽  
Republic Of Korea ◽  
Household Food Security ◽  
Household Food Insecurity ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Household Food ◽  
The Republic ◽  
Low Income Households

AbstractObjectiveTo examine the prevalence of food insecurity and to identify factors that contribute to it in the Republic of Korea.DesignA cross-sectional study.SettingData were selected from a secondary data set, the third Korean Welfare Panel Study. Household food insecurity was measured with a six-item Korean version of the US Household Food Security Survey Module. The differences in proportions or means of household characteristics, householder's characteristics, economic status and social benefits by food insecurity status were tested with the χ2 or t test. The independent associations of food insecurity with each characteristic were assessed with multivariate logistic regression analysis.SubjectsThe sample size consisted of 6238 households.ResultsThe prevalence of food insecurity was 5·3 % among all households and 25·7 % among low-income households. Risk factors that were associated with a higher risk of food insecurity included living alone, unemployment, no job, low household income and living in a leased or rented home. For low-income households, living in a leased or rented home increased the risk of food insecurity. Among food-insecure households, 26·1 % of the full sample of households and 34·3 % of low-income households were participating in food assistance programmes.ConclusionsFood insecurity among the Korean population was related to household type, income, job status and housing. Food assistance programmes were not enough to completely alleviate food insecurity.

Exploring the association between food insecurity and food skills among school-aged children

2020 ◽  
Vol 23 (11) ◽  
pp. 2000-2005 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rosanne Blanchet ◽  
Olivia K Loewen ◽  
Stephanie L Godrich ◽  
Noreen Willows ◽  
Paul Veugelers
Keyword(s):  
Public Schools ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Multinomial Logistic Regression ◽  
Short Form ◽  
Food Preparation ◽  
Household Food Security ◽  
Family Meal ◽  
Household Food ◽  
Food Insecure Households

AbstractObjective:To examine the relationship between household food insecurity (FI) and children’s involvement in family meal choices and food preparation, used as proxies for children’s food skills, and to explore gender differences within these associations.Design:Households were classified as food-secure or food-insecure using the six-item, short-form Household Food Security Survey Module. Children’s involvement in family meal choices and food preparation were treated as proxies for children’s food skills. Mixed-effects multinomial logistic regression models were used.Setting:Public schools in Nova Scotia, Canada.Participants:5244 children in the fifth grade (10–11 years old) participating in the Children’s Lifestyle and School Performance Study (CLASS).Results:Most children reported being involved in family meal choices or food preparation at least weekly (74 and 68 %). The likelihood of helping choose family meals once a week was 33 % lower among girls from food-insecure households compared to girls from food-secure households. No differences in boys’ involvement in family meal choices were observed according to household FI status. Boys from food-insecure households were 65 % more likely than boys from food-secure households to assist with food preparation/cooking four times per week. No differences in girls’ involvement in food preparation were observed according to household FI status.Conclusions:Findings support that household FI is not due to a lack of food skills but most likely due to inadequate access to resources. This supports the call for upstream policies targeting the structural issues underpinning household FI such as low income.

scholarly journals A Food Insecurity Systematic Review: Experience from Malaysia

Nutrients ◽  
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.

scholarly journals High food insecurity in Latinx families and associated COVID-19 infection in the Greater Bay Area, California

BMC Nutrition ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Milagro Escobar ◽  
Andrea DeCastro Mendez ◽  
Maria Romero Encinas ◽  
Sofia Villagomez ◽  
Janet M. Wojcicki
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
San Francisco ◽  
Employment Status ◽  
The United States ◽  
Household Food Security ◽  
Bay Area ◽  
Household Food ◽  
History Of ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background Food insecurity impacts nearly one-in-four Latinx households in the United States and has been exacerbated by the novel coronavirus or COVID-19 pandemic. Methods We examined the impact of COVID-19 on household and child food security in three preexisting, longitudinal, Latinx urban cohorts in the San Francisco Bay Area (N = 375 households, 1875 individuals). Households were initially recruited during pregnancy and postpartum at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital (ZSFG) and UCSF Benioff prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. For this COVID-19 sub-study, participants responded to a 15-min telephonic interview. Participants answered 18 questions from the US Food Security Food Module (US HFSSM) and questions on types of food consumption, housing and employment status, and history of COVID-19 infection as per community or hospital-based testing. Food security and insecurity levels were compared with prior year metrics. Results We found low levels of household food security in Latinx families (by cohort: 29.2%; 34.2%; 60.0%) and child food security (56.9%, 54.1%, 78.0%) with differences between cohorts explained by self-reported levels of education and employment status. Food security levels were much lower than those reported previously in two cohorts where data had been recorded from prior years. Reported history of COVID-19 infection in households was 4.8% (95% Confidence Interval (CI); 1.5–14.3%); 7.2% (95%CI, 3.6–13.9%) and 3.5% (95%CI, 1.7–7.2%) by cohort and was associated with food insecurity in the two larger cohorts (p = 0.03; p = 0.01 respectively). Conclusions Latinx families in the Bay Area with children are experiencing a sharp rise in food insecurity levels during the COVID-19 epidemic. Food insecurity, similar to other indices of poverty, is associated with increased risk for COVID-19 infection. Comprehensive interventions are needed to address food insecurity in Latinx populations and further studies are needed to better assess independent associations between household food insecurity, poor nutritional health and risk of COVID-19 infection.

scholarly journals Food Security and COVID-19: A Systematic Review of the First-Year Experience

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (9) ◽  
pp. 5294
Author(s):  
Boglárka Anna Éliás ◽  
Attila Jámbor
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Food Security ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Poverty Reduction ◽  
First Year ◽  
Structural Problem ◽  
Global Food Security ◽  
Global Food ◽  
Low Income Households

For decades, global food security has not been able to address the structural problem of economic access to food, resulting in a recent increase in the number of undernourished people from 2014. In addition, the FAO estimates that the number of undernourished people drastically increased by 82–132 million people in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. To alleviate this dramatic growth in food insecurity, it is necessary to understand the nature of the increase in the number of malnourished during the pandemic. In order to address this, we gathered and synthesized food-security-related empirical results from the first year of the pandemic in a systematic review. The vast majority (78%) of the 51 included articles reported household food insecurity has increased (access, utilization) and/or disruption to food production (availability) was a result of households having persistently low income and not having an adequate amount of savings. These households could not afford the same quality and/or quantity of food, and a demand shortfall immediately appeared on the producer side. Producers thus had to deal not only with the direct consequences of government measures (disruption in labor flow, lack of demand of the catering sector, etc.) but also with a decline in consumption from low-income households. We conclude that the factor that most negatively affects food security during the COVID-19 pandemic is the same as the deepest structural problem of global food security: low income. Therefore, we argue that there is no need for new global food security objectives, but there is a need for an even stronger emphasis on poverty reduction and raising the wages of low-income households. This structural adjustment is the most fundamental step to recover from the COVID-19 food crises, and to avoid possible future food security crises.

scholarly journals Family chaos and lack of mealtime planning is associated with food insecurity in low income households

2016 ◽  
Vol 21 ◽  
pp. 147-155 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barbara H. Fiese ◽  
Craig Gundersen ◽  
Brenda Koester ◽  
Blake Jones
Keyword(s):  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Family Chaos ◽  
Low Income Households

Factors which influence use of prenatal care in low-income racialethnic women in Los Angeles county

1991 ◽  
Vol 16 (5) ◽  
pp. 283-295 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruth E. Zambrana ◽  
Christine Dunkel-Schetter ◽  
Susan Scrimshaw
Keyword(s):  
Los Angeles ◽  
Prenatal Care ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Los Angeles County

scholarly journals Food insecurity, coping strategies and glucose control in low-income patients with diabetes

2015 ◽  
Vol 19 (6) ◽  
pp. 1103-1111 ◽  
Author(s):  
Victoria L Mayer ◽  
Kevin McDonough ◽  
Hilary Seligman ◽  
Nandita Mitra ◽  
Judith A Long
Keyword(s):  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Coping Strategies ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Glucose Control ◽  
Economic Stress ◽  
Poverty Level ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Assistance Program ◽  
Patients With Diabetes ◽  
And Coping

AbstractObjectiveTo examine the relationship between food insecurity and coping strategies (actions taken to manage economic stress) hypothesized to worsen glucose control in patients with diabetes.DesignUsing a cross-sectional telephone survey and clinical data, we compared food-insecure and food-secure individuals in their use of coping strategies. Using logistic regression models, we then examined the association between poor glucose control (glycated Hb, HbA1c≥8·0 %), food insecurity and coping strategies.SettingAn urban medical centre, between June and December 2013.SubjectsFour hundred and seven adults likely to be low income (receiving Medicaid or uninsured and/or residing in a zip code with >30 % of the population below the federal poverty level) with type 2 diabetes.ResultsOf respondents, 40·5 % were food insecure. A significantly higher percentage of the food-insecure group reported use of most examined coping strategies, including foregone medical care, participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)) and use of emergency food programmes. Food insecurity was associated with poor glucose control (OR=2·23; 95 % CI 1·22, 4·10); coping strategies that were more common among the food insecure were not associated with poor glucose control. Among the food insecure, receipt of SNAP was associated with lower risk of poor glucose control (OR=0·27; 95 % CI 0·09, 0·80).ConclusionsWhile food insecurity was associated with poor glucose control, most examined coping strategies did not explain this relationship. However, receipt of SNAP among food-insecure individuals was associated with better diabetes control, suggesting that such programmes may play a role in improving health.

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