Food Insecurity in Portugal Among Middle- and Older-Aged Adults at a Time of Economic Crisis Recovery: Prevalence and Determinants

2019 ◽  
Vol 40 (4) ◽  
pp. 504-513 ◽  
Author(s):  
Isabel Maia ◽  
Teresa Monjardino ◽  
Brenda Frias ◽  
Helena Canhão ◽  
Jaime Cunha Branco ◽  
...  

Background: To characterize the scenario of food insecurity in Portugal at a time of economic crisis recovery is of the utmost relevance. Objective: This study aimed to estimate the prevalence and to identify the determinants of food insecurity during economic crisis recovery in a population-based urban sample of middle- and older-aged Portuguese adults. Methods: A cross-sectional study including 604 participants of the EPIPorto cohort was conducted. Data on sociodemographic characteristics and on food security status were collected. Food security status was assessed using the US Household Food Security Survey Module: Six-Item Short Form. Logistic regression models, crude and adjusted for sex, age, education, and household income perception, were performed. Results: The prevalence of food insecurity was 16.6%. Women (odds ratio [OR] = 1.96; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.09-3.54), those less educated (OR = 5.46; 95% CI: 2.84-10.46), and those who had the perception of an insufficient household income (OR = 10.39; 95% CI: 5.00-21.56) were more likely to belong to a food insecure household. Unmarried individuals (OR = 1.79; 95% CI: 1.05-3.06) and lower white-collar workers (OR = 2.22; 95% CI: 1.03-4.77) were also more prone to live within a food insecure household, regardless of sex, age, education, and household income perception. Conclusions: The obtained information is valuable for the development of intervention strategies to reduce food insecurity in middle- and older-aged adults, suggesting that women, unmarried, less educated individuals, less skilled workers, and lower income families should be targeted.

Nutrients ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (9) ◽  
pp. 2682 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katherine Kent ◽  
Sandra Murray ◽  
Beth Penrose ◽  
Stuart Auckland ◽  
Denis Visentin ◽  
...  

The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated economic vulnerabilities and disrupted the Australian food supply, with potential implications for food insecurity. This study aims to describe the prevalence and socio-demographic associations of food insecurity in Tasmania, Australia, during the COVID-19 pandemic. A cross-sectional survey (deployed late May to early June 2020) incorporated the U.S. Household Food Security Survey Module: Six-Item Short Form, and fifteen demographic and COVID-related income questions. Survey data (n = 1170) were analyzed using univariate and multivariate binary logistic regression. The prevalence of food insecurity was 26%. The adjusted odds of food insecurity were higher among respondents with a disability, from a rural area, and living with dependents. Increasing age, a university education, and income above $80,000/year were protective against food insecurity. Food insecurity more than doubled with a loss of household income above 25% (Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR): 2.02; 95% CI: 1.11, 3.71; p = 0.022), and the odds further increased with loss of income above 75% (AOR: 7.14; 95% CI: 2.01, 24.83; p = 0.002). Our results suggest that the prevalence of food insecurity may have increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly among economically vulnerable households and people who lost income. Policies that support disadvantaged households and ensure adequate employment opportunities are important to support Australians throughout and post the COVID-19 pandemic.


2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zinat Mortazavi ◽  
Ahmad Reza Dorosty ◽  
Mohammad Reza Eshraghian ◽  
Mohtasham Ghaffari ◽  
Alireza Ansari-Moghaddam ◽  
...  

Background.Today, more than one billion people globally suffer from poverty and food insecurity. This study aimed to determine the severity of and factors related to household food insecurity in Zahedan, Southeastern Iran.Methods.This cross-sectional study was conducted on a total of 2,160 households between November 2014 and December 2015. Demographic and socioeconomic data were collected through interviewing the household mothers. Household food security status was assessed through the USDA 18-item questionnaire. The data were analyzed using chi-square test, one-way ANOVA, and logistic regression model.Results.Total food insecurity in the households investigated was 58.8%. There were significant associations (P<0.001) between household food insecurity status and the socioeconomic status of the households, ethnicity, education, age, and employment status of the head of the household and the mother of the household.Discussion.The results showed that more than half of the households examined suffer from food insecurity. Interventions to improve the food security status of people should be designed and implemented to improve people’s knowledge, skills, and attitudes related to healthy eating and food preparation. People’s access to healthy foods and knowledge of how to select healthy foods (especially on a limited budget) should also be improved.


2014 ◽  
Vol 35 (4) ◽  
pp. S395-S402 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luísa Álvares ◽  
Teresa F. Amaral

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.


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.


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.


2019 ◽  
Vol 40 (2) ◽  
pp. 271-281 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patricia Ukegbu ◽  
Blessing Nwofia ◽  
Uchechi Ndudiri ◽  
Nnenna Uwakwe ◽  
Ada Uwaegbute

Background: Food insecurity is a growing public health issue and a barrier to students achieving adequate nutrition. Data regarding food insecurity among university students in Nigeria are scarce. Objective: The study assessed the prevalence of food insecurity and associated factors among university students, southeast Nigeria. Methods: A cross-sectional survey of 398 randomly selected students recruited from 2 universities in southeast Nigeria was conducted. Food security status was assessed using the 10-item US Household Food Security Scale Module. Anthropometric measurements and sociodemographic data were collected. Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with food insecurity. Results: A majority of the students were categorized as food insecure. Of this, about 35.7% and 45.0% were considered to have low and very low food insecurity, respectively. Food insecurity was significantly associated with monthly allowance, daily amount spent on food, and source of income. The odds of food insecurity was significantly higher for students whose fathers were farmers (4.6, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.453-14.737), but lower for those whose mothers were farmers (0.18, 95% CI: 0.059-0.564). Conclusion: The result provides an insight into the food security status of university students in Nigeria. The prevalence of food insecurity was high among the students. Therefore, further studies involving different urban and rural (and/or public and private) universities in Nigeria are suggested in order to have a deeper understanding of the magnitude and contributing factors among this population group.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-29
Author(s):  
Alexandra Pepetone ◽  
Lana Vanderlee ◽  
Christine M. White ◽  
David Hammond ◽  
Sharon I. Kirkpatrick

Abstract Objective: To assess associations between household food security status and indicators of food skills, health literacy, and home meal preparation, among young Canadian adults. Design: Cross-sectional data were analyzed using logistic regression and general linear models to assess associations between food security status and food skills, health literacy, and the proportion of meals prepared at home, by gender. Setting: Participants recruited from five Canadian cities (Vancouver (BC), Edmonton (AB), Toronto (ON), Montreal (QB), and Halifax (NS)) completed an online survey. Participants: 1,389 men and 1,340 women aged 16-30 years. Results: Self-reported food skills were not associated with food security status (P>0.05) among men or women. Compared to those with high health literacy (based on interpretation of a nutrition label), higher odds of food insecurity were observed among men (AOR: 2.58, 95% CI: 1.74-3.82 and 1.56, 95% CI: 1.07-2.28), and women (AOR: 2.34, 95% CI: 1.48-3.70 and 1.92, 95% CI: 1.34-2.74) with lower health literacy. Women in food-insecure households reported preparing a lower proportion of breakfasts (β= -0.051, 95% CI: -0.085 – -0.017), lunches (β= -0.062, 95% CI: -0.098 – -0.026) and total meals at home (β= -0.041, 95% CI: -0.065 – -0.016). Men and women identifying as Black or Indigenous, reporting financial difficulty, and with lower levels of education had heightened odds of experiencing food insecurity. Conclusions: Findings are consistent with other studies underscoring the financial precarity, rather than lack of food skills, associated with food insecurity. This precarity may reduce opportunities to apply health literacy and undertake meal preparation.


2019 ◽  
Vol 35 (7) ◽  
Author(s):  
Luna Rezende Machado de Sousa ◽  
Ana Maria Segall-Corrêa ◽  
Arlette Saint Ville ◽  
Hugo Melgar-Quiñonez

This study sought to describe the changes in the food security status in Brazil before and during its most recent financial and political crisis, as well as to explore associations between food security and socioeconomic factors during the crisis. This cross-sectional study analyzed data from two different sources: the Brazilian National Household Sample Survey for 2004 (n = 112,479), 2009 (n = 120,910), and 2013 (n = 116,192); and the Gallup World Poll for 2015 (n = 1,004), 2016 (n = 1,002), and 2017 (n = 1,001). Household food security status was measured by a shorter version of the Brazilian Food Insecurity Scale, consisting of the first 8 questions of the original 14-item scale. Descriptive and logistic regression analyses were performed to assess the changes in food security and their association with socioeconomic factors. Results suggest that during the crisis the percentage of households classified as food secure declined by one third (76% in 2013 to 49% in 2017) while severe food insecurity tripled (4% in 2013 to 12% in 2017). Whereas before the crisis (2013) 44% of the poorest households were food secure, by 2017 this decreased to 26%. Household income per capita was strongly associated with food security, increasing by six times the chances of being food insecure among the poorest strata. Those who reported a low job climate, social support or level of education were twice as likely to be food insecure. Despite significant improvements between 2004 and 2013, findings indicate that during the crisis Brazil suffered from a great deterioration of food security, highlighting the need for emergency policies to protect and guarantee access to food for the most vulnerable.


2019 ◽  
Vol 22 (13) ◽  
pp. 2339-2345
Author(s):  
Francis Tayie ◽  
Beibei Xu ◽  
Maureen Timlin ◽  
Ariel Dumars ◽  
Jenna Jackson

AbstractObjective:To determine associations between household food security status and risk of Cu toxicity.Design:A population-level cross-sectional study to determine adult household food security status and its relationship with serum total Cu concentration (serum Cu) using multivariable regression models.Setting:Adult participants in the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2011–2014.Participants:The NHANES phlebotomy data, a nationally representative sample (n 2780; 1360 men and 1420 women), were analysed.Results:A significantly greater proportion of food-insecure persons had serum Cu that was above the upper value of the normal range (clinical cut-off) compared with their food-secure counterparts. In men, food insecurity (OR = 2·24, P &lt; 0·001) and marginal food security (OR = 1·79, P &lt; 0·001), and in women, marginal food security (OR = 1·82, P = 0·016), associated with greater likelihood to have serum Cu that was above the upper value of the normal range. Food insecurity was significantly associated with greater likelihood (OR = 1·65, P = 0·020) to have serum Cu that was within the upper quartile (≥75th centile).Conclusions:Food-insecure persons associate with higher serum Cu concentration and are at greater risk of Cu toxicity. There is need to study the sources of Cu in general, and specifically in food-insecure persons, to facilitate reduction of Cu exposure. Examining Cu contents of the food and water supplies could explicate any relationships to food insecurity and Cu intake.


2014 ◽  
Vol 18 (5) ◽  
pp. 844-849 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachel Widome ◽  
Agnes Jensen ◽  
Ann Bangerter ◽  
Steven S Fu

AbstractObjectiveFood insecurity, or lack of access to sufficient food for a healthful lifestyle, has been associated with many aspects of poor health. While the economic struggles among veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have been documented, it is unknown how commonly this population struggles to afford food. Our purpose was to document the prevalence and correlates of food insecurity among US veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.DesignA cross-sectional survey.SubjectsUS military veterans who had served in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan since October 2001.SettingSubjects responded to a survey mailed to them in summer 2012. Food security was measured by the US Household Food Security Module: Six Item Short Form. Demographic and behavioural health items were also included. Survey data were matched to medical record data from the Department of Veterans Affairs.ResultsOver one in four veterans reported past-year food insecurity with 12 % reporting very low food security. Food-insecure veterans tended to be younger, not married/partnered, living in households with more children, earning lower incomes, had a lower final military pay grade, were more likely to use tobacco, reported more frequent binge drinking and slept less, compared with those who were food secure (P<0·05 for all associations listed).ConclusionsPreviously undocumented, the problem of hunger among our newest veterans deserves attention.


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