Geography of Hunger: Demographic and Socioeconomic Determinates of Large-scale Severe Hunger Rates in Fresno, California

Abstract

ABSTRACT Very low food security (VLFS) is a public health concern requiring identification of social risk characteristics within communities. This study used spatial regression to identify social vulnerability characteristics that distinguish VLFS households at the census tract-level in Fresno, California. Hunger rate came from a 2014 survey of 74 census tracts. Demographic, social vulnerability, and food access variables were assessed for fitness. VLFS was associated with income, ethnicity, household sizes, group living situations, and spatial clustering. This study documents that appropriate surveys and spatial statistics using appropriate risk characteristics should be used to inform urban planning and local food insecurity programs.