Abstract
BackgroundLimited attention has been paid to an association between food environment and household economic resources related to food expenditure in food-insecure seniors. The aim of the study was to investigate the relationship between factors of economic resource, food environment, and food insecurity in single seniors residing in rural areas of South Korea.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted in 170 single senior households aged 65 years or over residing in rural areas. Face-to-face interviews were performed to collect data on demographic characteristics, household economic resources/expenditure, food environmental factors, and food insecurity.ResultsAmong economic resources, generally limited food expenditures due to housing fees and heating costs during the winter were positively related to food insecurity. Among food environmental factors, food accessibility at community level such as food stores located far from home and inconvenient bus routes was related to food insecurity. The most explainable economic and food environment factors related to food insecurity by stepwise logistic regression analysis were the percentage of total expenditure on housing fee (OR = 1.021, 95% CI: 1.008–1.034), foods purchasing at super supermarket (OR = 0.398, 95% CI: 0.166–0.951), having difficulties in food purchasing due to food stores being located far from home (OR = 14.487, 95% CI: 5.139–40.842) and inconvenient bus routes (OR = 0.083, 95% CI: 0.015–0.460).ConclusionInadequate community food environment as well as limited household food resources were an important risk factor for food insecurity in Korean single rural seniors. Findings of this study could help us better understand how characteristics of household food resources and community food environment can serve as barriers or facilitators of food security among single older adults residing in rural areas.
Highlights
Limited attention has been paid to an association between food environment and household economic resources related to food expenditure in food-insecure seniors
Among food environmental factors, having difficulties in food purchasing due to food stores being located far from home (OR = 14.487, 95% confidence intervals (CI): 5.139–40.842) and non-purchasing of foods regardless of such difficulties (OR = 5.946, 95% CI: 1.659–21.311) were positively related to food insecurity while foods purchasing at super supermarket (OR = 0.398, 95% CI: 0.166–0.951) and having difficulties in food purchasing due to inconvenient bus routes (OR = 0.083, 95% CI: 0.015–0.460) were negatively related to food insecurity
This study found that factors associated with food insecurity among older adults living alone in rural areas of South Korea were high housing expenditure, non-purchasing of foods at super supermarket, and having difficulties in food purchasing because of food stores located far from home or inconvenient bus routes
Summary
Limited attention has been paid to an association between food environment and household economic resources related to food expenditure in food-insecure seniors. The aim of the study was to investigate the relationship between factors of economic resource, food environment, and food insecurity in single seniors residing in rural areas of South Korea. Food insecurity in the elderly living alone has recently attracted substantial research interest due to increasing number of older adults in developed countries. Compared to older adults living in cities, those living in rural areas are known to have significantly more health problems due to inadequate access to health care services and resources [7,8,9]. These results suggest it would be crucial to set priority of public health interventions for rural older adults living alone
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
