710-P: Material-Needs Security and Food Insecurity in Adults with Type 2 Diabetes in Lebanon

Abstract

Food insecurity is known to impair diabetes self-management and clinical outcomes. Little is known about the prevalence and social determinants of food insecurity among people with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Thus, the aim of this study was to assess food insecurity and its relationship with material needs security in Lebanese adults with T2DM of low socioeconomic status. Subjects with T2DM (n=299) were recruited from primary health care centers in Lebanon; sociodemographic and material need variables were collected using self-reported questionnaires. Food insecurity was assessed using the validated US Household Food Security Survey Module: Six-Item Short Form (USDA, 2012). Around 25% of the sample were food insecure. Compared to the food secure group, there were significantly (p<0.05) more participants who were females (58% vs. 44%), and who had low education level (82% vs. 58%) low income (49% vs. 24%), and no health insurance (65% vs. 49%), compared to the food secure group. Sum of material needs security was lower in the food insecure group (7.8±2.0 vs. 9.4±2.1, p<0.05). Results from the fully adjusted logistic regression model showed that material needs security (OR: 1.26; 95% CI: 1.06-1.49; p<0.007) and higher income (OR: 3.34; 95% CI: 1.39-8.05; p<0.007) were independent predictors of food security. Our study highlights the importance of material needs in achieving food security in T2DM in the MENA region. Further research is needed to explore other social determinants of health in this population and potential pathways/mechanisms to guide programs for effective interventions. Disclosure M.Bassil: None. O.Sukkarieh: None. L.E.Egede: None.