scholarly journals Food Insecurity Is Associated with Undernutrition but Not Overnutrition in Ecuadorian Women from Low-Income Urban Neighborhoods

2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-15 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Margaret Weigel ◽  
Rodrigo X. Armijos ◽  
Marcia Racines ◽  
William Cevallos

Household food insecurity (HFI) is becoming an increasingly important issue in Latin America and other regions undergoing rapid urbanization and nutrition transition. The survey investigated the association of HFI with the nutritional status of 794 adult women living in households with children in low-income neighborhoods in Quito, Ecuador. Data were collected on sociodemographic characteristics, household food security status, and nutritional status indicators (dietary intake, anthropometry, and blood hemoglobin). Data were analyzed using multivariate methods. The findings identified revealed a high HFI prevalence (81%) among the urban households that was associated with lowerper capitaincome and maternal education; long-term neighborhood residency appeared protective. HFI was associated with lower dietary quality and diversity and an increased likelihood of anemia and short stature but not increased high-calorie food intake or generalized or abdominal obesity. Although significant progress has been made in recent years, low dietary diversity, anemia, and growth stunting/short stature in the Ecuadorian maternal-child population continue to be major public health challenges. The study findings suggest that improving urban food security may help to improve these nutritional outcomes. They also underscore the need for food security policies and targeted interventions for urban households and systematic surveillance to assess their impact.

2010 ◽  
Vol 13 (7) ◽  
pp. 1139-1148 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sharon I Kirkpatrick ◽  
Valerie Tarasuk

AbstractObjectiveAlthough the sociodemographic characteristics of food-insecure households have been well documented, there has been little examination of neighbourhood characteristics in relation to this problem. In the present study we examined the association between household food security and neighbourhood features including geographic food access and perceived neighbourhood social capital.DesignCross-sectional survey and mapping of discount supermarkets and community food programmes.SettingTwelve high-poverty neighbourhoods in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.SubjectsRespondents from 484 low-income families who had children and who lived in rental accommodations.ResultsFood insecurity was pervasive, affecting two-thirds of families with about a quarter categorized as severely food insecure, indicative of food deprivation. Food insecurity was associated with household factors including income and income source. However, food security did not appear to be mitigated by proximity to food retail or community food programmes, and high rates of food insecurity were observed in neighbourhoods with good geographic food access. While low perceived neighbourhood social capital was associated with higher odds of food insecurity, this effect did not persist once we accounted for household sociodemographic factors.ConclusionsOur findings raise questions about the extent to which neighbourhood-level interventions to improve factors such as food access or social cohesion can mitigate problems of food insecurity that are rooted in resource constraints. In contrast, the results reinforce the importance of household-level characteristics and highlight the need for interventions to address the financial constraints that underlie problems of food insecurity.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (105) ◽  
pp. 18912-18931
Author(s):  
U Mukherjee ◽  
◽  
JM Chalwe ◽  
S Mbambara ◽  
WH Oldewage-Theron ◽  
...  

Socio-demographic factors and household food insecurity are considered to influence the nutritional status of older women. The rapidly growing elderly population in Africa is a concern particularly in sustaining their health and nutritional status. In spite of this, there is a scarcity of information in older Zambian women and this study aimed to assess the socio-demographic factors, nutritional status and household food insecurity status of older women in rural Zambian communities. This cross-sectional study was conducted in Twatasha compound of Kitwe and Ndeke community of Ndola. The socio-demographic characteristics, anthropometric measurements, dietary intakes and household food security were evaluated in a convenience sample of 153 older women (≥ 50 years) through the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS). IBM SPSS version 26 was used for descriptive (frequencies, means and standard deviations, and medians with interquartile frequencies) and inferential (bivariate and Spearman correlations) statistical analyses. The socio-demographic characteristics showed that almost all (98.7%) of the participants had other members of the family residing with them. Most participants (57%) had attained primary school education, 19% had secondary education and 5% had college education. Almost half (49%) of the participants did not report their employment status and 36% reported to be unemployed. Over-nutrition was most prevalent (37.3% overweight and 39.8% obese) while 20.9 % and 2.0% of the respondents were normal weight and underweight respectively. The median (25th percentile; 75th percentile) dietary intakes showed inadequate intakes for most nutrients, except for carbohydrates (170 g [133;225]). The total fat intake represented 14% of total energy intake. The majority (86.0%) of the participants were identified as severely food insecure while only 6.0% were food secure. The majority of the participants (80-90%) used at least seven out of the nine behavioural responses to food insecurity. The findings show resource-poor and severely food insecure communities. We recommended urgent interventions to improve access to healthy foods (such as home gardening projects) and promote healthy dietary habits (including nutrition education).


2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeanne Freeland-Graves ◽  
Mahsa Babaei ◽  
Prageet Sachdev

Abstract Objectives To examine the relationships between food security and prevalence and severity of periodontal disease in low-income women. Methods This cross-sectional study involved 220 women, 18–50 years of age, who were recruited from dental clinics and low-income households in Central Texas. On one visit, women completed a Demographic Survey and the United States Household Food Security Survey Module. Two trained dentists conducted dental screenings for evaluation of periodontal status, using two indices: Clinical Attachment Loss (CAL) and Bleeding on Probing (BOP) to discern severity of periodontitis. Multiple regression analysis was used to assess the effect of food insecurity on the status of periodontal disease, after adjustment for socioeconomic status. Results The mean age of participants was 38.13 ± 9.43 years. The majority were Hispanic, had completed a high school education, and had a mean income of <$25,000/year. Over half of the sample (54.55%) was food insecure, followed by marginally food secure (24.09%) and highly food secure (21.36%), based on cut off values of the Household Food Security Survey Module. Mean values for Clinical Attachment Loss and Bleeding on Probing were 1.742 ± 0.75 and 1.632 ± 2.23 respectively. These results indicated that the women exhibited periodontal disease, with stages of mild (56.83%), moderate (26.36%) and severe periodontitis (16.81%). Food insecurity was directly related to the severity of periodontal disease, as illustrated by the Clinical Attachment Loss (β-coefficient = 0.170, p value = 0.01) and Bleeding on Probing (β coefficient = 0.380, p value = 0.00), after adjustment for socioeconomic status. Conclusions Food insecure individuals appear to be at a great risk for periodontal disease. Whether this relationship is due to lack of food resources, improper dental equipment or hygiene, or nutrition knowledge will be explored as the study progresses. This health risk for periodontal disease should be incorporated into public health policies concerning food insecurity. Funding Sources Bess Heflin Centennial Professorship.


2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Margaret Weigel ◽  
Rodrigo X. Armijos

Household food insecurity (HFI) is a major global public health and pediatric concern due to its reported association with adverse child nutrition, growth, and health outcomes. Psychosocial dysfunction is a major cause of childhood disability. US and Canadian studies have linked HFI to poorer overall psychosocial dysfunction and specific dysfunction types in school-aged children, i.e., internalizing, externalizing, and attention behaviors. However, it is uncertain whether prior findings are generalizable to low- and middle-income country (LMIC) settings. We conducted a cross-sectional study to explore the association of HFI with psychosocial dysfunction in 6-12-year-old public elementary schoolchildren (n=279) residing in low-income neighborhoods in Quito, Ecuador. Maternal caregivers were interviewed to obtain data on child psychosocial dysfunction (Pediatric Symptom Checklist, PSC), food security (Household Food Security Survey Module), and maternal mental health (SF-36 Mental Composite Summary). Capillary blood samples were obtained from child participants to measure hemoglobin levels. The data were analyzed using general linear models with adjustment for covariates. The results revealed that HFI was associated with significantly higher overall average PSC scores (p=0.002) and with internalizing (p=0.001) and externalizing (p=0.03) but not attention subscale scores. However, anemia was independently associated with PSC attention subscale scores (p=0.015). This is the first study to report on the relationship between HFI and psychosocial dysfunction in school-aged children in a LMIC setting. It highlights the importance of improving policies and programs protecting vulnerable households from HFI. In addition to improving health and nutrition, such improvements could potentially reduce the burden of child psychosocial dysfunction.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohamed Abd Alrazik Desogi ◽  
Fatima Abbas Khalid ◽  
Awadia Khojali Mohamed ◽  
Asma Mahmoud Hamza ◽  
Sarah salih Mohammed ◽  
...  

Abstract BackgroundMalnutrition and anemia are still major health problem in Sudan .This study aim to assess the magnitude of household food insecurity and its consequences on the nutritional status and anemia of children 6–60 months in north localities in Kassala State (Eastern Sudan) MethodWe administered a cross-sectional survey to 445 households in 16 villages. We used specially designed structured questionnaire. We measure household food insecurity by food consumption score (FCS)Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20.0 statistical package. Frequencies and Chi2 was performed. Multivariable logistic regression was used to develop the final model indicating the predictors of the outcome variable.ResultsFood insecurity and vulnerability for food insecurity was found in 181 (38.7%) of household .There was significant associations (P < 0.001) between household's food insecurity and income, household size, number of children, eating habits and avoidance of certain types of food. the overall prevalence of stunting , wasting and underweight was 52.1%, 35.6% and 53.9% respectively. The result showed that the relationship of nutrition status of children and HH food security was statistically insignificant although stunted and underweight were increased by 8% and 7% respectively in food insecure HH, though the prevalence of wasting was almost similar in food secure and insecure households. The study showed that 262 (76.4%) of children had HB level less than 11g/dL. Mild anemia was reported in only 9.3% while moderate and sever anemia in 34.4% , 32.7% respectively. This study revealed that there is negative association of HB level with HH food security (P<0.05). Among those who had normal HB level 30 (37%) were food insecure, whereas 51 (63%) where food secure in contrast to 195(75.6%) who had low level of HB were food secure. ConclusionAccording to the study findings, more attention is needed to improve household food security in the study area .Good eating habits can be achieved by designing education programs to improve knowledge, skills, and attitudes related to healthy eating and food preparation and overall, increasing household income through improving the farming methods, and finding the alternative sources of income. Other risk factors of malnutrition and anemia also should be corrected , such as improving maternal education, improving feeding practices regarding avoiding certain type of food and controlling childhood infections.


2017 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
pp. 189
Author(s):  
Rika Kusuma Nagari ◽  
Triska Susila Nindya

Background: The nutritional status of elementary school children can be influence by many factors such as levels adequacy of energy and proteinand household food security status. Unbalanced levels adequacy of energy and protein possibility can cause nutritional problems in children. While the status of household food security has an impact on the household ability to access a good food. Objectives: aims of this study are to analyze the relationship between nutritional adequacy level and household food security status with nutritional status of children aged 6-8 years. Method: This study used cross sectional design with sample of 62 families with children aged 6-8 years enrolled in SDN 1 and 2 Sambirejo. Anthropometric measurement of height and weight is used to determine the nutritional status of children. The instruments used 2x24-hours food recall form (energy and protein adequacy level), and US-HFSSM (household food security status). While the statistical test used is spearman correlation test. Results: The results showed a correlation between levels of energy (p=0.000) and protein (p=0.000) adequacy and household food security status (p=0.010) with child nutritional status. Conclusion: Households with food insecurity had a higher proportion of nutritional problem than food secure family, so it is needed to children for having supplemental food, especially them who have nutritional problems and on food insecurity condition. It is intended to provide children with additional nutritious food to reduce the risk of nutritional problems.ABSTRAK Latar Belakang: Status gizi anak sekolah dasar dapat dipengaruhi oleh banyak faktor diantaranya tingkat kecukupan energi dan protein serta status ketahanan pangan rumah tangga. Ketidakseimbangan tingkat kecukupan energi dan protein, kemungkinan dapat menyebabkan masalah gizi pada anak. Status ketahanan pangan rumah tangga berdampak kepada kemampuan dalam mengakses pangan yang baik.Tujuan: Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menganalisis hubungan antara tingkat kecukupan energi dan protein serta status ketahanan pangan rumah tangga dengan status gizi anak usia 6-8 tahun.Metode: Penelitian ini menggunakan desain cross sectional dengan sampel sebanyak 62 keluarga yang memiliki anak usia 6-8 tahun yang terdaftar di SDN 1 dan 2 Sambirejo. Pengukuran antropometri tinggi badan dan berat badan digunakan untuk mengetahui status gizi anak. Selain itu, instrumen yang digunakan adalah  formulir 2x24-hours food recall (tingkat kecukupan energi dan protein), dan US-HFSSM (status ketahanan pangan rumah tangga). Statistik uji yang digunakan adalah uji korelasi spearman.Hasil: Hasil dari penelitian ini yaitu terdapat hubungan antara tingkat kecukupan energi (p=0,000) dan protein (p=0,000) serta status ketahanan pangan rumah tangga (p=0,010) dengan status gizi anak.Kesimpulan: Rumah tangga yang rawan pangan akan memiliki risiko mengalami masalah gizi yang lebih tinggi bila dibandingkan dengan rumah tangga yang tahan pangan, sehingga perlu adanya pemberian makanan tambahan kepada anak, terutama kepada anak yang memiliki masalah gizi dan berada pada kondisi rawan pangan. Hal tersebut dimaksudkan untuk memberikan anak tambahan makanan yang bergizi agar menurunkan risiko masalah gizi.


2018 ◽  
Vol 21 (12) ◽  
pp. 2200-2210 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joanna Russell ◽  
Anne Lechner ◽  
Quentin Hanich ◽  
Aurélie Delisle ◽  
Brooke Campbell ◽  
...  

AbstractObjectiveTo meet some of the UN’s seventeen Sustainable Development Goals by 2030, there is a need for more effective policy to reduce food insecurity in low-income and lower-middle-income countries (LMIC). Measuring progress towards these goals requires reliable indicators of food security in these countries. Routinely conducted household consumption and expenditure surveys (HCES) provide potentially valuable and nationally representative data sets for this purpose. The present study aimed to assess methods used to determine national food security status using proxy measures from HCES data in LMIC globally.DesignA scoping literature review was conducted using electronic databases. Of the 929 abstracts identified, a total of twenty articles were reviewed against strict inclusion and exclusion criteria and included for further analysis.ResultsFourteen LMIC globally were represented in the twenty articles. The simplest metric used to indicate food insecurity compared household food expenditure against a level of expenditure considered to be below the poverty line. Data on acquisition of food was commonly converted to available energy for the household using local food composition tables and expressed as a proportion of household total energy requirements. Dietary diversity was also assessed in some studies as well as experience of food insecurity.ConclusionsThe review demonstrated that routinely collected HCES data sets provide a useful resource for the measurement of household food security in often resource-limited LMIC. Standardisation of methods used to assess food security is needed to allow for more useful comparisons between countries, as well as to assess temporal trends.


2017 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
pp. 189
Author(s):  
Rika Kusuma Nagari ◽  
Triska Susila Nindya

Background: The nutritional status of elementary school children can be influence by many factors such as levels adequacy of energy and proteinand household food security status. Unbalanced levels adequacy of energy and protein possibility can cause nutritional problems in children. While the status of household food security has an impact on the household ability to access a good food. Objectives: aims of this study are to analyze the relationship between nutritional adequacy level and household food security status with nutritional status of children aged 6-8 years. Method: This study used cross sectional design with sample of 62 families with children aged 6-8 years enrolled in SDN 1 and 2 Sambirejo. Anthropometric measurement of height and weight is used to determine the nutritional status of children. The instruments used 2x24-hours food recall form (energy and protein adequacy level), and US-HFSSM (household food security status). While the statistical test used is spearman correlation test. Results: The results showed a correlation between levels of energy (p=0.000) and protein (p=0.000) adequacy and household food security status (p=0.010) with child nutritional status. Conclusion: Households with food insecurity had a higher proportion of nutritional problem than food secure family, so it is needed to children for having supplemental food, especially them who have nutritional problems and on food insecurity condition. It is intended to provide children with additional nutritious food to reduce the risk of nutritional problems.ABSTRAK Latar Belakang: Status gizi anak sekolah dasar dapat dipengaruhi oleh banyak faktor diantaranya tingkat kecukupan energi dan protein serta status ketahanan pangan rumah tangga. Ketidakseimbangan tingkat kecukupan energi dan protein, kemungkinan dapat menyebabkan masalah gizi pada anak. Status ketahanan pangan rumah tangga berdampak kepada kemampuan dalam mengakses pangan yang baik.Tujuan: Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menganalisis hubungan antara tingkat kecukupan energi dan protein serta status ketahanan pangan rumah tangga dengan status gizi anak usia 6-8 tahun.Metode: Penelitian ini menggunakan desain cross sectional dengan sampel sebanyak 62 keluarga yang memiliki anak usia 6-8 tahun yang terdaftar di SDN 1 dan 2 Sambirejo. Pengukuran antropometri tinggi badan dan berat badan digunakan untuk mengetahui status gizi anak. Selain itu, instrumen yang digunakan adalah  formulir 2x24-hours food recall (tingkat kecukupan energi dan protein), dan US-HFSSM (status ketahanan pangan rumah tangga). Statistik uji yang digunakan adalah uji korelasi spearman.Hasil: Hasil dari penelitian ini yaitu terdapat hubungan antara tingkat kecukupan energi (p=0,000) dan protein (p=0,000) serta status ketahanan pangan rumah tangga (p=0,010) dengan status gizi anak.Kesimpulan: Rumah tangga yang rawan pangan akan memiliki risiko mengalami masalah gizi yang lebih tinggi bila dibandingkan dengan rumah tangga yang tahan pangan, sehingga perlu adanya pemberian makanan tambahan kepada anak, terutama kepada anak yang memiliki masalah gizi dan berada pada kondisi rawan pangan. Hal tersebut dimaksudkan untuk memberikan anak tambahan makanan yang bergizi agar menurunkan risiko masalah gizi.


2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 203-214
Author(s):  
Lina Al-Kharabsheh ◽  
Samer Al-Bazz ◽  
Mustafa Koc ◽  
Joe Garcia ◽  
Ginny Lane ◽  
...  

In Canada, the prevalence of food insecurity is high among low-income households, particularly recent refugees. We evaluated the prevalence of food security among recent Syrian refugees and the associated factors in two Canadian cities, Toronto and Saskatoon. We collected data using the Household Food ‎Security Model, sociodemographic and socioeconomic questionnaires from 151 families. 84% of the Syrian households were food insecure, with no significant difference in prevalence between Saskatoon and Toronto. The risk of food insecurity was four ‎times higher for households with the annual income below $40,000. Households with educated woman (high school or higher) had four times higher risk of household food insecurity compared to families with less-educated women. ‎Our findings indicate the high prevalence of food insecurity among recently resettled Syrian refugees in Canada. Higher-income directly associated with food security. The inverse association between education and food security in households with highly educated women warrants further investigation.


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