Concordance in reports of food insecurity associated with environmental factors among Latino fathers and mothers
Abstract Background: Food assistance and nutrition education are strategies used to address the high prevalence of food insecurity among U.S. Latino households. Assessment of food security status is necessary to implement these strategies. However, similarities and differences in perceptions of food security status have not been reported among Latino fathers and mothers who may have different home food acquisition and preparation responsibilities. This study aimed to 1) determine demographic characteristics and/or food-related factors associated with perceptions of food security status among Latino fathers and mothers, and 2) identify those factors correlated with concordance in perceptions of food insecurity between fathers and mothers.Methods: Baseline data were used from a Latino-family, community-based program to improve paternal parenting practices and youth energy balance-related behaviors (Padres Preparados, Jóvenes Saludables), including 106 father and mother couples. Food security was assessed with two questions from the U.S. Department of Agriculture 18-item Household Food Security Survey. Logistic regression models were used to evaluate associations between food security and predictor variables in fathers or mothers and between couple discordant responses in food security status and predictor variables.Results: The prevalence of household food insecurity was reported by 39% of fathers and 55% of mothers. Food security status was associated with neighborhood safety (odds ratio (OR): 3.7, p < 0.05) and household income (OR: 3.2, p < 0.05) in fathers, and with neighborhood safety (OR: 4.1, p < 0.01) and home fruit and vegetable availability (OR: 5.5, p < 0.01) in mothers. Couple discordance in reporting food security status occurred in 24% of the couples and was related to higher discordance among couples where fathers reported a lower frequency of participation in nutrition education than mothers (OR: 3.4, p < 0.05) and different perceptions of home fruit and vegetable accessibility (OR: 3.1, p < 0.05).Conclusions: Among Latino fathers and/or mothers, factors associated with perceptions of food insecurity differed, possibly related to fathers versus mothers having access to information about different household aspects related to food insecurity. Nutrition education for fathers may support an improvement in couple discordance in assessment of food security.