scholarly journals Association of Household Food Insecurity with Nutritional Status and Mental Health of Pregnant Women in Rural Bangladesh

Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (12) ◽  
pp. 4303
Author(s):  
S. M. Tafsir Hasan ◽  
Daluwar Hossain ◽  
Faysal Ahmed ◽  
Md Alfazal Khan ◽  
Ferdousi Begum ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Nutritional Status ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Women’S Health ◽  
Women's Health ◽  
Household Food Insecurity ◽  
Household Food ◽  
Independent Association ◽  
Environmental Shocks

Food insecurity may affect women’s health; however, pertinent research is scant among pregnant women. This study investigated the association of household food insecurity (HFI) with the nutritional status and mental health of 672 early-gestation (5–16 weeks) pregnant women with a singleton fetus, who participated in the screening activity of a community-based trial (NCT04868669) in Matlab, Bangladesh. Height (cm), weight (kg), body mass index (kg/m2), mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) (cm), depression, anxiety, and stress were the outcomes studied. HFI was assessed using the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale. Women’s depression, anxiety, and stress were assessed using the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scales-21. Propensity score matching based weighted multivariable linear and logistic regression were used to evaluate the independent association of HFI with the outcomes. In adjusted models, pregnant women from food-insecure households in rural Matlab were on average 2.0 cm shorter (β = −2.0, 95% CI: −3.3, −0.7), 2.0 kg lighter (β = −2.0, 95% CI: −3.4, −0.7), and had 0.6 cm lower MUAC (β = −0.6, 95% CI: −1.1, −0.1) than their food-secure counterparts. HFI was associated with higher odds of depression (OR = 3.3, 95% CI: 1.8, 5.9), anxiety (OR = 6.1, 95% CI: 3.7, 10.0), and stress (OR = 4.8, 95% CI: 1.6, 14.2) among the women. Public health measures should focus on ensuring proper nutrition during the critical growth periods of life, pregnancy, and external environmental shocks, to mitigate the adverse effects of HFI on women’s health.

scholarly journals Association of Household Food Insecurity with the Mental and Physical Health of Low-Income Urban Ecuadorian Women with Children

2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Margaret Weigel ◽  
Rodrigo X. Armijos ◽  
Marcia Racines ◽  
William Cevallos ◽  
Nancy P. Castro
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Household Food Insecurity ◽  
Health Complaints ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Epidemiologic Transition ◽  
Household Food ◽  
Mental And Physical Health

Chronic physical and mental health conditions account for a rising proportion of morbidity, mortality, and disability in the Americas region. Household food insecurity (HFI) has been linked to chronic disease in US and Canadian women but it is uncertain if the same is true for low- and middle-income Latin American countries in epidemiologic transition. We conducted a survey to investigate the association of HFI with the physical and mental health of 794 women with children living in low-income Quito, Ecuador, neighborhoods. Data were collected on HFI and health indicators including self-reported health (SF-1), mental health (MHI-5), blood pressure, and self-reported mental and physical health complaints. Fasting blood glucose and lipids were measured in a subsample. The multivariate analyses revealed that HFI was associated with poorer self-rated health, low MHI-5 scores, and mental health complaints including stress, depression, and ethnospecific illnesses. It was also associated with chest tightness/discomfort/pain, dental disease, and gastrointestinal illness but not other conditions. The findings suggest that improving food security in low-income households may help reduce the burden of mental distress in women with children. The hypothesized link with diabetes and hypertension may become more apparent as Ecuador moves further along in the epidemiologic transition.

scholarly journals Self-applied ELCSA is valid for rapid tracking of household food insecurity among pregnant women during the COVID-19 pandemic

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thilini Chanchala Agampodi ◽  
Amber Hromi-Fiedler ◽  
Suneth Buddhika Agampodi ◽  
Gayani Shashikala Amarasinghe ◽  
Nuwan Darshana Wickramasinghe ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Sri Lanka ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Concurrent Validity ◽  
The Self ◽  
Model Fit ◽  
Psychometric Validation ◽  
Household Food Insecurity ◽  
Household Food

Abstract Background Rapid household food insecurity (HFI) tracking has been identified as a priority in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and its aftermath. We report the validation of the Latin American and Caribbean Food Security Scale (Escala Latinoamericana y Caribena de Seguridad Alimentaria -ELCSA) among pregnant women in Sri Lanka. Methods The adult eight-items of the English version of ELCSA was translated into Sinhala and Tamil. Cognitive testing (on ten pregnant women and five local experts) and psychometric validation of the self-administered HFI tool was conducted among pregnant women (n=269) attending the Rajarata Pregnancy Cohort (RaPCo) special clinics in Anuradhapura in February 2020. We assessed psychometric properties and fit using a one parameter logistic model (Rasch analysis) using STATA version 14 and WINSTEP software version 4.3.4. Concurrent validity was tested using psychological distress. Results The scale was internally consistent (Cronbachs alpha = 0.79), had a good model fit (Rasch infit statistic range: 0.85 to 1.07). Item 8 (did not eat for the whole day) was removed from the model fit analysis as it was not affirmed by anyone. Item severity scores ranged from -2.15 for not eating a diverse diet to 4.43 for not eating during the whole day. Concurrent validity between HFI and psychological distress was confirmed (r=0.15, p<0.05). Conclusions The self-applied version of ELCSA- pregnancy in Sri Lanka (ELCSA-P-SL) is a valid and feasible tool to track HFI among pregnant women in similar contexts during the COVID-19 pandemic, where social distancing is a major concern and its aftermath.

scholarly journals The Relation between Food Insecurity and Mental Health Care Service Utilization in Ontario

2018 ◽  
Vol 63 (8) ◽  
pp. 557-569 ◽  
Author(s):  
Valerie Tarasuk ◽  
Joyce Cheng ◽  
Craig Gundersen ◽  
Claire de Oliveira ◽  
Paul Kurdyak
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Service Utilization ◽  
Care Service ◽  
Health Care Service ◽  
Household Food Insecurity ◽  
The Past ◽  
Household Food ◽  
Health Care Service Utilization

Objective: To determine the relationship between household food insecurity status over a 12-month period and adults’ use of publicly funded health care services in Ontario for mental health reasons during this period. Methods: Data for 80,942 Ontario residents, 18 to 64 years old, who participated in the Canadian Community Health Survey in 2005, 2007-2008, 2009-2010, or 2011-2012 were linked to administrative health care data to determine individuals’ hospitalizations, emergency department visits, and visits to psychiatrists and primary care physicians for mental health reasons. Household food insecurity over the past 12 months was assessed using the Household Food Security Survey Module. Logistic regression models were used to estimate the odds of mental health service utilization in the past 12 months by household food insecurity status, adjusting for sociodemographic factors and prior use of mental health services. Results: In our fully adjusted models, in comparison to food-secure individuals, the odds of any mental health care service utilization over the past 12 months were 1.15 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.04 to 1.29) for marginally food-insecure individuals, 1.39 (95% CI, 1.19 to 1.42) for moderately food-insecure individuals, and 1.50 (95% CI, 1.35 to 1.68) for severely food-insecure individuals. A similar pattern persisted across individual types of services, with odds of utilization highest with severe food insecurity. Conclusions: Household food insecurity status is a robust predictor of mental health service utilization among working-age adults in Ontario. Policy interventions are required to address the underlying causes of food insecurity and the particular vulnerability of individuals with mental illness.

scholarly journals Pregnant Women’s Health-related Behavior Changes and Psychological Status After the Peak of COVID-19 Outbreak in China: A Cross-sectional Study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruixue Tian ◽  
Xu Zhang ◽  
Xiaoli Chen ◽  
Che Deng ◽  
Zhijie Zou ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Women’S Health ◽  
Women's Health ◽  
Psychological Status ◽  
Behavior Changes ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Anxiety Depression ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Antenatal Visits

Abstract Background: Little is known about the relationship between health-related behavior and psychological status of pregnant women during the COVID-19 outbreak. We aimed to describe the health-related behavior changes and psychological status of Chinese pregnant women, and to explore the relationship between pregnant women’s characteristics, health-related behavior and different psychological status following the peak of COVID-19 outbreak.Methods: We conducted an online survey through social media (WeChat) from March 14 to April 7. A self-designed questionnaire was used to investigate Chinese pregnant women’s health-related behavior changes. Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale, Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale and Perceived Stress Scale were used to assess anxiety, depression and stress among pregnant women. Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to compare health-related behavior changes before and during the COVID-19 outbreak and Spearman’s rank correlation analysis or logistic regression analysis were used to explore the relationships between variables.Results: A total of 113 pregnant women were included in this study. Most pregnant women wore masks (98.2%), changed location or tried to stay away from those who seem to have a cold or fever (99.1%) and washed hands more often than before (96.5%). Pregnant women washed hands with soap or hand sanitizer more often and went out less often than before the outbreak. There were 41.6% pregnant women who didn’t have antenatal visits or weren’t on time for antenatal visits. Majority (77.9%) pregnant women sought help when feeling panic or anxiety, whereas few turned to psychological workers. The rates of pregnant women with anxiety, depression and health risk stress were 64.6%, 58.4% and 54.9%, respectively. Analysis of relationship between variables showed that household income, gestational age, pregnancy complications, knowledge about COVID-19 and maternal and child protection, perception of the likelihood of infection, the frequency of going out, prenatal check-up behavior, help-seeking behavior were significantly associated or correlated with psychological status. Conclusions: Attention should be paid to the mental health of pregnant women with specific health-related behaviors changes. Screening for mental health problems and psychological interventions among pregnant women are needed.

scholarly journals Socio-demographic, household food security and nutritional status of older (> 50 Y) women from rural Zambian communities: A descriptive study

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (105) ◽  
pp. 18912-18931
Author(s):  
U Mukherjee ◽  
◽  
JM Chalwe ◽  
S Mbambara ◽  
WH Oldewage-Theron ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Nutritional Status ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Older Women ◽  
Demographic Characteristics ◽  
Household Food Security ◽  
Household Food Insecurity ◽  
Dietary Intakes ◽  
Household Food ◽  
Socio Demographic Factors

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).

scholarly journals Household food insecurity is associated with low dietary diversity among pregnant and lactating women in rural Malawi

2018 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 697-705 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yunhee Kang ◽  
Kristen M Hurley ◽  
Julie Ruel-Bergeron ◽  
Assumpta Bou Monclus ◽  
Rachel Oemcke ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Dietary Diversity ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Household Food Insecurity ◽  
Food Groups ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Lactating Women ◽  
Rural Districts ◽  
Household Food

AbstractObjectiveTo examine the association between household food insecurity and dietary diversity in the past 24h (dietary diversity score (DDS, range: 0–9); minimum dietary diversity (MDD, consumption of three or more food groups); consumption of nine separate food groups) among pregnant and lactating women in rural Malawi.DesignCross-sectional study.SettingTwo rural districts in Central Malawi.SubjectsPregnant (n 589) and lactating (n 641) women.ResultsOf surveyed pregnant and lactating women, 66·7 and 68·6 %, respectively, experienced moderate or severe food insecurity and only 32·4 and 28·1 %, respectively, met MDD. Compared with food-secure pregnant women, those who reported severe food insecurity had a 0·36 lower DDS (P<0·05) and more than threefold higher risk (OR; 95 % CI) of not consuming meat/fish (3·19; CI 1·68, 6·03). The risk of not consuming eggs (3·77; 1·04, 13·7) was higher among moderately food-insecure pregnant women. Compared with food-secure lactating women, those who reported mild, moderate and severe food insecurity showed a 0·36, 0·44 and 0·62 lower DDS, respectively (all P<0·05). The risk of not achieving MDD was higher among moderately (1·95; 1·06, 3·59) and severely (2·82; 1·53, 5·22) food-insecure lactating women. The risk of not consuming meat/fish and eggs increased in a dose–response manner among lactating women experiencing mild (1·75; 1·01, 3·03 and 2·81; 1·09, 7·25), moderate (2·66; 1·47, 4·82 and 3·75; 1·40, 10·0) and severe (5·33; 2·63, 10·8 and 3·47; 1·19, 10·1) food insecurity.ConclusionsAddressing food insecurity during and after pregnancy needs to be considered when designing nutrition programmes aiming to increase dietary diversity in rural Malawi.

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