scholarly journals Household Food Insecurity and Associated Dietary and Socio-economic Factors among Pregnant Women of Mid-west Bangladesh

Author(s):  
Israt Jahan ◽  
Fardib Mahbub ◽  
Eyad Ahmed

Purpose: The aim of the present study was to estimate the prevalence of household food insecurity and to determine the dietary and non-dietary factors associated with household food insecurity among pregnant women of mid-west Bangladesh. Methodology: The study was conducted in four sub-districts of Rajshahi district: Rajshahi Sadar, Godagari, Tanor and Shardah. It was a cross-sectional study which randomly enrolled 150 pregnant women. Household food insecurity among the respondents was calculated with the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS). Results: The mean age of the pregnant women was 29±3 years. About 76% of respondents were food secure, 23% of respondents were mildly food insecure, and only 1% of respondents were moderately food insecure. Severe food insecurity was not observed among the respondents in Rajshahi. About 17% of respondents were anxious and uncertain about their household food supply, about 23% of respondents said that they had to eat foods of insufficient quality and only 1% of respondents replied that they had eaten an insufficient amount of food during the month prior to the study. It was observed that the mean Dietary Diversity Score (DDS) and mean Food Consumption Score (FCS) significantly differed (P < .05) between food secure and food insecure respondents. Meat, fish and poultry consumption were found higher among the food secure respondents but vegetable consumption was higher among the food insecure group. Some socio-economic factors such as household size, respondents’ educational status, husbands’ educational status, husbands’ occupation and monthly household income were significantly associated (P < .05) with household food insecurity of the respondents.

2018 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 697-705 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yunhee Kang ◽  
Kristen M Hurley ◽  
Julie Ruel-Bergeron ◽  
Assumpta Bou Monclus ◽  
Rachel Oemcke ◽  
...  

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.


2015 ◽  
Vol 19 (4) ◽  
pp. 723-731 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kamal P Singh ◽  
Sankara Varun Bhoopathy ◽  
Heather Worth ◽  
Holly Seale ◽  
Robyn L Richmond

AbstractObjectiveTo determine the nutritional status of men and the food security status of their households in an internally displaced persons (IDP) camp in Kenya.DesignA descriptive, cross-sectional study using a questionnaire and biometric measurements was completed in June 2013.SettingIDP camp, Rongai, Kenya.SubjectsA total of 267 men aged ≥18 years residing within the camp were recruited via respondent-driven sampling. Statistical associations between categorical variables were analysed using Pearson’s χ2 tests, while independent t tests were used for continuous variables.ResultsAmong the men surveyed, we found a mean BMI of 20·3 (sd 2·5) kg/m2, with 23·9 % of participants in the underweight category (BMI<18·5 kg/m2). The mean Individual Dietary Diversity Score was 6 out of a maximum score of 9. The mean Household Food Insecurity Access Scale score was 11·6 (sd 6·8), with 180 participants (71·7 %) residing in households categorised as severely food insecure. Low monthly household income (<2000 Kenyan Shillings, or $US 25) was associated with a higher food insecurity score (P<0·001), greater likelihood of residing in a severely food-insecure household (P<0·001), low dietary diversity score (P<0·05) and being underweight (P<0·01).ConclusionsWhile the nutritional status of men in the IDP camp is comparable to non-displaced men in Kenya, household food insecurity is relatively high. Efforts to improve food security for the future are essential to minimise the impact of severe food insecurity on mental health, disease profiles and family well-being reported in other IDP settings.


Nutrients ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (8) ◽  
pp. 2454
Author(s):  
Christopher L Melby ◽  
Fadya Orozco ◽  
Jenni Averett ◽  
Fabián Muñoz ◽  
Maria José Romero ◽  
...  

Some rural areas of Ecuador, including the Imbabura Province of the Andes Highlands, are experiencing a double burden of malnutrition where micronutrient deficiencies persist at the same time obesity is increasing as many traditional home-grown foods are being replaced with more commercially prepared convenience foods. Thus, the relationships among agricultural food production diversity (FPD), dietary diversity (DD), and household food insecurity (HFI) of the rural small holder farmers need further study. Therefore, we examined these associations in small holder farmers residing in this Province in the Andes Highlands (elevation > 2500 m). Non-pregnant maternal home managers (n = 558, x age = 44.1, SD = 16.5 y) were interviewed regarding the number of different agricultural food crops cultivated and domestic animals raised in their family farm plots. DD was determined using the Minimum Dietary Diversity for Women Score (MDD-W) based on the number of 10 different food groups consumed, and household food insecurity (HFI) was determined using the 8-item Household Food Insecurity Experience Scale. The women reported consuming an average of 53% of their total food from what they cultivated or raised. Women with higher DD [MMD-W score ≥ 5 food groups (79% of total sample)] were on farms that cultivated a greater variety of crops (x = 8.7 vs. 6.7), raised more animals (x = 17.9 vs. 12.7, p < 0.05), and reported lower HFI and significantly higher intakes of energy, protein, iron, zinc, and vitamin A (all p < 0.05). Multiple regression analyses demonstrated that FPD was only modestly related to DD, which together with years of education, per capita family income, and HFI accounted for 26% of DD variance. In rural areas of the Imbabura Province, small holder farmers still rely heavily on consumption of self-cultivated foods, but greater diversity of crops grown in family farm plots is only weakly associated with greater DD and lower HFI among the female caretakers.


Author(s):  
Ourega-Zoé Ejebu ◽  
Stephen Whybrow ◽  
Lynda Mckenzie ◽  
Elizabeth Dowler ◽  
Ada Garcia ◽  
...  

In the absence of routinely collected household food insecurity data, this study investigated what could be determined about the nature and prevalence of household food insecurity in Scotland from secondary data. Secondary analysis of the Living Costs and Food Survey (2007–2012) was conducted to calculate weekly food expenditure and its ratio to equivalised income for households below average income (HBAI) and above average income (non-HBAI). Diet Quality Index (DQI) scores were calculated for this survey and the Scottish Health Survey (SHeS, 2008 and 2012). Secondary data provided a partial picture of food insecurity prevalence in Scotland, and a limited picture of differences in diet quality. In 2012, HBAI spent significantly less in absolute terms per week on food and non-alcoholic drinks (£53.85) compared to non-HBAI (£86.73), but proportionately more of their income (29% and 15% respectively). Poorer households were less likely to achieve recommended fruit and vegetable intakes than were more affluent households. The mean DQI score (SHeS data) of HBAI fell between 2008 and 2012, and was significantly lower than the mean score for non-HBAI in 2012. Secondary data are insufficient to generate the robust and comprehensive picture needed to monitor the incidence and prevalence of food insecurity in Scotland.


Nutrition ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 65 ◽  
pp. 97-102 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aaron Kobina Christian ◽  
Grace S. Marquis ◽  
Esi K. Colecraft ◽  
Anna Lartey ◽  
Rula Soueida

Author(s):  
Yang ◽  
Yuan ◽  
Yang ◽  
Zou ◽  
Ji ◽  
...  

Left-behind children (LBC) are a newly emerged social group in China. Poor nutritional status is particularly prominent in this population. However, their food insecurity tends to attract very little attention. This study aims to investigate the relationship between food insecurity and undernutrition (stunting and anaemia) in 3 to 5-year-old LBC in rural China. Face-to-face interviews were administered to 553 LBC caregivers in 40 rural villages of Hunan Province, China. The Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS) was used to assess household food insecurity (HFI). Dietary diversity score (DDS) and food group consumption frequency were measured by 24 h-recall and food frequency questionnaires (FFQ). Hemoglobin tests and anthropometric measurements including height and weight were measured by trained health professionals. Logistic regression was constructed to assess the association between household food insecurity and dietary diversity, stunting, and anaemia. A high prevalence of household food insecurity was determined (67.6%). The weighted prevalence of stunting and anaemia were 16.6% and 26.5%, respectively. Food insecurity was positively associate with LBC stunting (severe HFI: OR = 6.50, 95% CI: 2.81, 15.00; moderate HFI: OR = 3.47, 95% CI: 1.60, 7.54), and anaemia (severe HFI: OR = 1.91, 95% CI: 1.02, 3.57). LBC with food insecurity had significantly lower dietary diversity than those who were food-secure (p < 0.001). The prevalence of household food insecurity among LBC in poor rural China is high and is associated with low DDS, stunting, and anaemia. Nutritional intervention programs and policies are urgently needed to reduce household food insecurity and undernutrition for this vulnerable population.


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