Food insecurity is associated with pregnancy outcomes among low‐income Latinas

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the relationship of food insecurity at two time periods, the year before pregnancy and during pregnancy, with pregnancy outcomes among low income Latinas. Food insecurity was assessed using a modified version of the U.S. Household Food Security Scale. Path analysis evaluated the direct and indirect effects of food insecurity on pregnancy outcomes. Findings showed a 1 point increase in the total food security score before pregnancy (indicating worsening food insecurity) directly increased pregravid BMI by 0.185 kg/m2 and directly increased the total food security score during pregnancy by 0.360 points. Food insecurity before pregnancy was also indirectly associated with gestational weight gain as well as infant birthweight. The total net indirect effect of a 1 point increase in food insecurity before pregnancy on gestational weight gain was ‐0.032 kg and on infant birthweight was 0.054 kg. Among food secure women, the predictive prevalence rate of macrosomia increased while the rate of low birthweight decreased with each hypothetical point increase in food insecurity before pregnancy. These findings suggest food insecurity before pregnancy may be important when evaluating the risk of suboptimal pregnancy outcomes among Latinas. Funded by Connecticut NIH EXPORT Center of Excellence for Eliminating Health Disparities among Latinos (NIH‐NCMHD Grant # P20MD0017650).