Bank Accounts, Nonbank Financial Transaction Products, and Food Insecurity among Households with Children

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is designed to improve household diet and food security—a pressing problem confronting low-income families in the United States. Previous studies on the issue often ignored the methodological issue of endogenous program participation. We revisit this important issue by estimating a simultaneous equation system with ordinal household food insecurity. Data are drawn from the 2009–2011 Current Population Survey Food Security Supplement (CPS-FSS), restricted to SNAP-eligible households with children. Our results add to the stocks of empirical findings that SNAP participation ameliorates food insecurity among adults only, but increases the probabilities of low and very low food security among children. These contradictory results indicate that our selection approach with a single cross section is only partially successful, and that additional efforts are needed in further analyses of this complicated issue, perhaps with longitudinal data. Socio-demographic variables are found to affect food-secure households and food-insecure households differently, but affect SNAP nonparticipants and participants in the same direction. The state policy tools, such as broad-based categorical eligibility (BBCE) and simplified reporting, can encourage SNAP participation and thus ameliorate food insecurity. Our findings can inform policy deliberations.

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Food insecurity in families with children under five years of age on the Brazil-Peru Amazon border

Journal of Human Growth and Development ◽

10.7322/jhgd.122761 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 26 (3) ◽

pp. 307 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Alanderson Alves Ramalho ◽

Saulo Augusto Silva Mantovani ◽

Humberto Oliart-Guzmán ◽

Fernando Luiz Cunha Castelo Branco ◽

Athos Muniz Braña ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Food Insecurity ◽

Children Under Five ◽

Under Five ◽

Factors Associated ◽

Wood Floor ◽

Nutrition Security ◽

Food And Nutrition ◽

Households With Children ◽

Families With Children ◽

Main Factor

Food and nutrition security is the regular and permanent access to quality food in sufficient quantity. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence and factors associated with food insecurity in households with children under five in the Amazon frontier Brazil - Peru. The study was conducted in 352 households in Assis Brasil (Brazil) and 89 households Iñapari (Peru), finding a prevalence of food insecurity of 40.6 % and 38.2 % , respectively ( p = 0.856 ) . In Assis Brasil, having domicile with wood floors or land increased by 2.47 times the odds of food insecurity compared to cement fl oors, ceramic or quarry tiles . Belonging to the poorest tertile increased the chance of food insecurity in 6.04 times ( p < 0.001 ), and the increment of each new resident increased by 37 % the chance of food insecurity in the household . In Iñapari, only living in house made of wood or with a wood floor was associated with food insecurity, showing that income is still the main factor associated with food insecurity in the Amazonian borders.

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Food insecurity, food expenses and consumption of sugar and soft drinks in households with and without children and/or adolescents

Revista de Nutrição ◽

10.1590/1678-9865202134e200127 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 34 ◽

Author(s):

Bruna Fernanda do Nascimento Jacinto de SOUZA ◽

Daniele Flaviane Mendes CAMARGO ◽

Ana Maria SEGALL-CORRÊA ◽

Letícia MARÍN-LEÓN ◽

Priscila Maria Stolses Bergamo FRANCISCO

Keyword(s):

Food Insecurity ◽

Family Income ◽

Household Head ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Soft Drinks ◽

Measurement Scale ◽

Sugar Consumption ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Gender And Education ◽

Households With Children

ABSTRACT Objectives To estimate the frequency of food insecurity in households with and without children/adolescents; compare food expenses, sugar and soft drinks consumption in these households; and to analyze the relationship between food insecurity and demographic/socioeconomic variables with food expenses, and sugar and soft drinks consumption in households with and without children/adolescents. Methods Cross-sectional study with 628 households in Campinas, SP, Brazil. Food insecurity was estimated by the Brazilian Household Food Insecurity Measurement Scale. The dependent variables were the proportion of food expenses, and consumption of sugar and soft drinks; and the independent ones included food security/insecurity condition, monthly family income, gender, age and education of the household head. Results The frequency of food insecurity was higher in households with children/adolescents than in households without minors (41.4% vs. 27.9%). The proportion of food expenses was higher in households with children/adolescents and in all households it was associated with lower family income and, in households with minors, to the presence of a female householder. Soft drinks consumption was higher in households with children/adolescents; and was related to higher income in all households, and to the presence of male householder in households with minors. Sugar consumption in households with children/adolescents was associated with higher income, male gender and education level of the household head (<12 years). In households without children/adolescents, the higher sugar consumption was associated with food insecurity and the household head’s education (<8 years). Conclusion In households with children/adolescents there was a greater frequency of food insecurity and a greater commitment of income with food. Food insecurity was associated with increased sugar consumption in households without children/adolescents.

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The Prevalence and Socio-Demographic Correlates of Food Insecurity in Poland

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph17176221 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 17 (17) ◽

pp. 6221 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Hanna Dudek ◽

Joanna Myszkowska-Ryciak

Keyword(s):

Food Insecurity ◽

Household Composition ◽

Social Program ◽

Vulnerable Groups ◽

Factors Affecting ◽

Food And Agriculture ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Nationally Representative ◽

Households With Children ◽

The Impact

While food insecurity (FI) has been extensively studied in many countries, there have been few empirical contributions in Poland to date. The main objective of our research was to identify the socio-demographic factors affecting the risk of FI in Poland within 2014–2019. Moreover, we aimed to examine the effects of the family-oriented social program “Family 500+” by comparing the situation in various types of households with children a few years before and after the program was launched. The analysis was based on the set of eight-item FI indicators adopted by the Food and Agriculture Organization using the Gallup World Poll nationally representative survey data. Based on our results the most vulnerable groups in the context of FI were identified. We confirmed the importance of education, gender, age, marital status, household composition, status of employment and income in preventing FI. The effectiveness of the support program in reducing FI was demonstrated as households with at least three children experienced significant improvement in the FI status during the studied years. These findings should be especially important in the context of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on FI. As FI can affect the quality and quantity of food choices it is associated with a poorer health status, which increases the risk of infection, including COVID-19, and worsens recovery prognosis. Planning an efficient response to the pandemic requires a comprehension of the increased risk of exposure experienced by people, especially those who are food insecure.

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Using a Bifactor Model to Measure Food Insecurity in Households with Children

Journal of Family and Economic Issues ◽

10.1007/s10834-020-09686-9 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 41 (3) ◽

pp. 492-504

Author(s):

Victoria T. Tanaka ◽

George Engelhard ◽

Matthew P. Rabbitt

Keyword(s):

Food Insecurity ◽

Bifactor Model ◽

Households With Children

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Perspective: The Convergence of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) and Food Insecurity in the United States

Advances in Nutrition ◽

10.1093/advances/nmaa126 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Jason M Nagata ◽

Hilary K Seligman ◽

Sheri D Weiser

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Food Insecurity ◽

The United States ◽

Micronutrient Deficiencies ◽

Supplemental Nutrition ◽

Assistance Program ◽

Assistance Programs ◽

United States Food ◽

Households With Children ◽

Nutrition Assistance

ABSTRACT During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, food insecurity has doubled overall and tripled among households with children in the United States. Food insecurity and COVID-19 may exacerbate one another through bidirectional links, leading to a syndemic, or sequential disease clusters, which exacerbate one another. Experiencing food insecurity may be associated with macronutrient and micronutrient deficiencies, which can weaken host defenses, thus increasing susceptibility to COVID-19. Food insecurity is associated with chronic medical conditions, which may afford a higher risk of severe COVID-19 illness. People experiencing food insecurity may have increased exposure to COVID-19 while procuring food. People with COVID-19 may be unable to work, generate income, and procure food while quarantined, which may exacerbate food insecurity. Clinicians should screen for food insecurity during the COVID-19 pandemic and provide referrals to food-assistance programs when appropriate. Policymakers should expand benefits for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) to address increases in the depth and breadth of food insecurity during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Accessibility of summer meals and the food insecurity of low-income households with children

Public Health Nutrition ◽

10.1017/s1368980016000033 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 19 (11) ◽

pp. 2079-2089 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Daniel P Miller

Keyword(s):

Food Security ◽

Food Insecurity ◽

Low Income ◽

Urban Areas ◽

California Health Interview Survey ◽

Lower Probability ◽

Geographic Accessibility ◽

Households With Children ◽

The Impact ◽

Low Income Households

AbstractObjectiveAlmost no previous research has examined the impact of the US Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Summer Food Service Program and related Seamless Summer Option, which provide meals and snacks to low-income children over the summer. The present study investigated whether geographic accessibility of summer meals programme sites (a proxy for programme participation) was associated with food insecurity for low-income households.DesignThe study used data from the California Health Interview Survey (CHIS) and administrative data on summer meals sites in California. Geocoding was used to calculate driving time between CHIS households and nearby summer meals sites. Geographic accessibility was measured using a gravity model, which accounted for the spatially distributed supply of and demand for summer meals. Food insecurity and very low food security were measured using a standard six-item measure from the USDA.SubjectsLow-income families with children (n5394).SettingA representative surveillance study of non-institutionalized households in California.ResultsGeographic accessibility was not associated with food insecurity. However, geographic accessibility was associated with a significantly lower probability of very low food security in the full sample and among households with younger children and those living in less urban areas.ConclusionsThe USDA’s summer meals programme may be effective at reducing the most severe form of food insecurity for low-income households with children. Expanding the number of summer meals sites, the number of meals served at sites and sites’ hours of operation may be effective strategies to promote nutritional health over the summer months.

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Childhood Adversity and Adult Reports of Food Insecurity Among Households With Children

American Journal of Preventive Medicine ◽

10.1016/j.amepre.2015.09.024 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 50 (5) ◽

pp. 561-572 ◽

Cited By ~ 38

Author(s):

Jing Sun ◽

Molly Knowles ◽

Falguni Patel ◽

Deborah A. Frank ◽

Timothy C. Heeren ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Food Insecurity ◽

Childhood Adversity ◽

Households With Children

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Diaper need is associated with risk for food insecurity in a statewide sample of WIC participants

10.1101/2020.07.10.20150599 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Emily H Belarmino ◽

Amy Malinowski ◽

Karen Flynn

Keyword(s):

Food Insecurity ◽

Online Survey ◽

Linear Models ◽

Number Of Children ◽

Households With Children ◽

Scientific Attention ◽

Antipoverty Programs ◽

The Relationship ◽

Diaper Need

Diaper need is a form of material hardship that acutely affects families with young children, is not currently addressed by US antipoverty programs, and has received little public or scientific attention. This study examined the association between diaper need and risk for food insecurity in a statewide sample of participants in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). Families enrolled in Vermont WIC in August 2019 were invited to an online survey. Generalized linear models were used to estimate the relationship between risk for food insecurity measured by the Hunger Vital Sign tool and diaper need, with and without adjustment for household factors. Follow-up questions asked those with diaper need what they do when they run out of diapers and those without diaper need how they access enough diapers. Complete data were available for 501 households. Over half (52.3%) were at risk for food insecurity and nearly one-third (32.5%) reported diaper need. The odds of experiencing risk for food insecurity were 3.852 (95% CI=2.557, 5.803) times greater for families with diaper need than for families that had enough diapers. The association persisted with adjustment for location, age of respondent, number of children in diapers, and length of time participating in WIC (adjusted OR=4.036, 95% CI=2.645, 6.160). Strategies to avoid running out of diapers included borrowing, stretching supplies, switching to cloth or underwear, and buying on credit. It is possible that public health interventions that address diaper need may reduce food insecurity in households with children.

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