Insecurity Factors Research Articles

Effects of COVID-19 Pandemic and Poverty on Food Insecurity: Yearly Spatial Analysis

Spatial regression analysis was applied separately to the annual US state-level food insecurity data from 2015 through 2018, and 2020 to examine the effects of race, region of residency, and poverty particularly due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The results of the analysis suggested that the US food insecurity level was trending downwards between 2015 and 2018 but increased by 33.5% in 2020, obviously due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Also, residents from the West experienced higher food insecurity levels relative to the Mid-West between 2015 and 2018. The analysis also revealed that race is not a determining factor of food insecurity as both White and Black are equally affected to a significant level. Rather, the most salient determinant of food insecurity is poverty. The effects of poverty were positive and strongly significant from 2015 through 2018. The effect was, however, mild in 2020 probably due to the stimulus and unemployment checks people received through the Care Act. This result underscored the importance of SNAP and other government intervention programs in addressing the country’s food insecurity problems.

A Screening and Referral Intervention for Food Insecurity Among Older Emergency Department Patients

Food insecurity is prevalent among older adults, negatively impacts health, and may increase healthcare utilization. Risk factors include poverty, lack of transportation, and social isolation. Community-based services may mitigate food insecurity and other social risk factors. However, identifying those at risk and connecting them to services can be challenging. We implemented a screening and referral program in an Emergency Department (ED) to identify older adults facing food insecurity and connect them to a local Area Agency on Aging (AAA), which arranged and tracked delivery of community-based services. ED nursing assistants used the Hunger Vital Sign screener to assess food insecurity in patients aged 60 years and older. ED Care Managers (CMs) saw all who screened positive and made referrals to the AAA. The AAA conducted an intake assessment and arranged services. Patients were contacted three months after their ED visit to evaluate health, quality of life, and satisfaction with services. Of 423 patients screened over 7 months, 45 (11%) reported food insecurity. Of those, 25 were referred to the AAA. Patients were not referred to the AAA due to CM inability to make a referral (7), declining services (4), or other reasons (11). The AAA reached 21 patients and 9 received at least one service. Of those, 5 were reached for follow-up and reported satisfaction with services. The most frequently requested service was Meals on Wheels (10). Food insecurity is common among older ED patients. An ED-AAA partnership is feasible and connects older adults to beneficial services in their communities.

Determinantes socioculturales de la política alimentaria: voces de los beneficiarios del programa Comedores Comunitarios. Estudio realizado en la Ciudad de Culiacán Sinaloa México

El propósito de este trabajo es dar a conocer parte de los resultados de una investigación sobre el proceso de implementación de una política social alimentaria a través de Comedores Comunitarios en atención a la inseguridad alimentaria en la ciudad de Culiacán, Sinaloa, México. El objetivo fue conocer los elementos socioculturales que determinan la eficiencia del programa social. El diseño de la investigación es descriptivo-interpretativo utilizando un enfoque cualitativo basado en un método hermenéutico-critico que recupera los discursos de 30 beneficiarios de 27 Comedores Comunitarios que operan el programa en la Ciudad de Culiacán, Sinaloa, México. Los hallazgos muestran que las representaciones del proyecto político significan para el beneficiario una opción de alimentación y crean un espacio de convivencia y descanso, los discursos muestran lo que viven y sienten respecto a la cotidianidad del comensal. Asimismo se visualiza la necesidad del conocimiento de las determinantes socioculturales de la alimentación para contribuir a transformar la realidad alimentaria, pues reconoce los factores estructurales de la inseguridad alimentaria, pero también las condicionantes en el seno de las prácticas sociales de las familias, ya que ambas son importantes a la hora de la toma de decisiones de la política alimentaria. The purpose of this paper is to present some of the results of a research into the process of implementing of a social food policy through Community Kitchens in response to food insecurity in the city of Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico. The objective was to know the sociocultural factors that determine the efficiency of this social program. The research design is descriptive-interpretive using a qualitative approach based on a hermeneutic-critical method that recovers the discourses of 30 beneficiaries of 27 Community Kitchens who operate the program in the City of Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico. The findings show that the representations of the political project mean for the beneficiary a food option and create a space for conviviality and rest, the speeches show what they live and feel with regard to daily life of the diner. Likewise, the need for knowledge of the sociocultural determinants of food is visualized to contribute to transforming the food reality, since it recognizes the structural factors of food insecurity, but also the conditions within the social practices of families, meanwhile both are important when making food policy decisions.

Impact of Government Policy and Insecurity Factors on Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) Productivity in Nigeria

The subject of SMEs roles in an economy has received considerable attention in the literature both for the developed and developing economies. However, the differences in economic policy and social environments in these economies have not been adequately situated or dissipated in the discus. This gap is what this study partly addressed in the literature. This study examined the impact of government policy/programmes and the insecurity situation on productivity of SMEs in Nigeria. The study was based on a nationwide survey conducted in the year 2020 within a design of 590 SMEs respondents with which the hypotheses were tested. The multinomial logistic regression result indicated that government policy of multiple taxation caused cost to rise for SMEs as indicated by the variable (Hikes in product price) taking on X2= 6.163, p<0.05 and thus has had an adverse significant impact on SMEs productivity. Moreover, none of the government programmes for SMEs growth had wald statistics with p-value less than 0.05 indicating that they have not been significantly effective in promoting SMEs productivity in the country. In addition, none of the insecurity variables had p-value less than 0.05, thus insecurity has had no significant adverse impact on SMEs productivity in Nigeria. This study thus posits that multiple taxation is detrimental to SMEs productivity and thus needs to be harmonised to mitigate cost for SMEs in the country. Also, other policy initiatives need to be better crafted for greater effectiveness while the current insecurity situation in the country requires to be given closer attention with a view to curtailing it from degenerating into a worse state.

COV IMPACT : analyse des différents facteurs de stress du personnel hospitalier dans 2 centres hospitaliers en France lors de la pandémie COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic has swept through our hospitals which have had to adapt as a matter of urgency. We are aware that a health crisis of this magnitude is likely to generate mental disorders particularly affecting exposed healthcare workers. Being so brutal and global, this one-of the kind pandemic has been impacting the staff in their professional sphere but also within their private circle. The COV IMPACT study is an early assessment survey conducted for 2 weeks in May 2020, of the perception by all hospital workers of the changes induced in their professional activity by the pandemic. The study was carried out by a survey sent to the hospital staff of Béziers and Montfermeil. The readjusted working conditions were source of increased physical fatigue for 62 % of the respondents. Moral exhaustion was reported by 36 %. It was related to the stress of contracting the infection (72 %) but above all of transmitting it to relatives (89 %) with a broad perception of a vital risk (41 %). This stress affected all socio-professional categories (CSP) and was independent of exposure to COVID. Change in organisation, lack of information and protective gear and equipment were major factors of insecurity at the start of the epidemic. Work on supportive measures is necessary. It should focus on the spread of information, particularly towards the youngest, as well as bringing more psychological support and a larger amount of medical equipment, beyond healthcare workers and the COVID sectors.

Food Insecurity and Cardiovascular Risk Factors among Iranian Women

ABSTRACT We evaluated whether food insecurity is associated with clinical evidence of diet-sensitive cardiovascular diseases (CVD) risk factors, including obesity, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and diabetes. In this population-based cross-sectional study, 630 women aged 18–50 years under cover of health centers in Iran randomly selected and interviewed face-to-face. Food insecurity was evaluated using a household food insecurity access scale (HFIAS) questionnaire, which its validity and reliability was determined in the Iranian population. Logistic regression was used to assess the associations between food insecurity and having CVD risk factors including general and abdominal obesity, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, high low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL), low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL), hypertriglyceridemia, and diabetes. The probability of having hypertriglyceridemia (Adjusted OR = 2.04, P = .031), general obesity (Adjusted OR = 2.43, P = .029), abdominal obesity (Adjusted OR = 2.09, P = .024), and hypertension (Adjusted OR = 2.04, P = .038) increased with exacerbation of women’s food insecurity condition. The odds ratio of having CVD risk factors became stronger after adjusting for confounders. Food insecurity was associated with increased risk of CVD risk factors among Iranian reproductive-age women. Efforts to improve food security conditions among women might be associated with reductions in the incidence of CVD-related metabolic risks.

Students’ Perceptions of Early School Leaving: A Moroccan Case Study

Barriers to learning often refer to difficulties encountered by learners in learning processes that result from a wide range of experiences in the classroom, at school, at home, in the community and/or due to health problems, disability or disorder, and/or social insecurity and similar external factors. These factors lead to the inability of the system to adapt to diversity and lead to the collapse of learning and social justice and, hence, hinder learners' access to education. Several interconnected factors explain the reason of school dropouts, early school leaving, or rejection from school. According to the qualitative and quantitative data collected from students of lower and upper secondary schools, the main findings on students’ perception concerning early school leaving indicate that drugs (71.7 per cent), early marriage (58.7 per cent), household chores (58.7 per cent), agricultural activities (45.7 per cent), the language of study (French and English) (45.7 per cent), illness (43.5 per cent), economic activities (32.6 per cent) are the causes of dropping out of school, while 19.6, 21.7 and 26.1 per cent of them perceive that the lack of infrastructure, poverty and indiscipline lead to expulsions respectively. The results also show that uninteresting lessons (40 and 55 per cent of girls and boys), sexual abuse (68 and 35 per cent of girls and boys) and poor performance (68 and 40 per cent of girls and boys) represent the factors that lead to dropping out of school. The main conclusion of this study is that teachers must have skills and knowledge in inclusive education, communication, dropout factors and obtain training in the mental health of students and psychological education.

Sistematización del Proyecto CARS ejecutado por la URACCAN, Municipio de Puerto Cabezas

El proyecto Acción Comunitaria para la Lectura y Seguridad (CARS por sus siglas en inglés), tuvo el propósito de mejorar los resultados de la lectura y contribuir a la reducción de la inseguridad ciudadana de la niñez en preescolar y en los primeros grados de educación primaria. En este sentido se presenta la sistematización de la experiencia y los resultados del proyecto en los grupos meta. Es un estudio de carácter cualitativo, con enfoque participativo de los actores involucrados de esta experiencia centrándose en la implementación de las metodologías: Aprendo-Práctico-Aplico (APA) y Fonético-Analítico-Sintético (FAS); así mismo, las acciones desarrolladas para la identificación y abordaje de factores de inseguridad en la escuela y la comunidad, Trata de personas y violencia basada en género, en once escuelas del municipio de Puerto Cabezas en el 2018. Los resultados de la sistematización evidencian los procesos desarrollados, logros alcanzados y las lecciones aprendidas en la aplicación de las metodologías pedagógicas que servirán para futuras experiencias.

Current status quo of ICU low-grade nurse training and management

Abstract Intensive care unit (ICU) needs professional nursing staff with high professionalism to ensure the quality of nursing work and ensure patient's safety. However, low-age nurses play an important role in the ICU care team. In this study the authors reviewed the relevant literature, summarized the basic characteristics and training methods of ICU low-grade nurses, and analyzed the insecure factors and management strategies of ICU low-grade nurses.

Substantiation of strategic therapy of gonartrosis by chondroitin-containing drugs in diabetes mellitus patients

Introduction. Currently, there is a high prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2) and osteoarthritis (OA). DM2 worsens the prognosis of the results of arthroplasty for OA, and also becomes an additional insecurity factor in the administration of traditionally often used non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and in local injections of glucocorticosteroids. It is considered safer to prescribe chondroitin sulfate.Objective. Identification of clinical, radiological and arthrosonographic features of the manifestations of gonarthrosis with concomitant DM2 and related differences in the strategic conservative therapy.Methods. The study included 386 women with OA of knee joints (mean age 61,3 + 7,8 years). Patients were divided into groups of euglycemic status (group “OA”, n = 224) and comorbid according to DM2 (group “OA + DM2”, n = 162). The amplitude of an active mobility of the knee joints (KJ), the severity of gonarthrosis using the Lequesnealgo-functional index (AFI_Lequesne) and the WOMAC questionnaire were assessed. Radiography and arthrosonography of the KJ were performed.Results. In patients in group “OA + DM2” AFI_Lequesne were less by 18,2% (p = 0,0001), the total WOMAC index were less by 15,6% (p = 0,0001) compared with the “OA” group. In the group “OA + DM2”, the first x-ray stage was 2,6 times less common, and the third was 2 times more likely than the group “OA” (χ2 = 25,5; p = 0,001). The arthrosonography in the group “OA + DM2” detected a more pronounced thinning of the articular cartilage and more severe osteophytosis. The masking effect of DM2 on the symptoms of OA led to a rarer use of slowly acting symptom-modifying agents containing chondroitin in patients with “OA + DM2” in 1,7 times as compared with “OA” patients.Conclusions. In patients with gonarthrosis, concomitant DM2 minimizes symptoms, but accelerates the degeneration of the knee joints tissues. There is no information on the deterioration of the carbohydrate metabolism with a prolonged use of chondroitin sulfate, which suggests the safety of such therapy for patients with OA and concomitant diabetes mellitus type 2.

‘With or Without You’: The Governance of (Local) Security and the Koglweogo Movement in Burkina Faso

In late 2014 and after more than two decades of a ‘semi-authoritarian’ regime, a popular insurrection in Burkina Faso led to the fall of Blaise Compaore, president and leader of the ruling party. Due to — or parallel to — the political transition, factors of insecurity developed or were amplified, leading to a reconfiguration of the provision of security at two levels. At the central state level began a reflection around the governance model of security and the improvement of the practices of state security forces. At the local level, non-state security initiatives have multiplied. Drawing on insights from the study of local security provision and providers in the town of Tenkodogo, located in the Boulgou province (Centre-East region), and on its wider integration into the national framework and response to insecurity in Burkina Faso, this article raises and investigates three major questions. First, how is the governance of security (co)produced by (state and non-state) actors in a specific local configuration in Burkina Faso? Second, in what ways does this local experience compare with the state’s response to insecurity and with the nationwide expansion of the Koglweogo movement? Finally, what new perspectives can such reflection at the local and national levels offer to overcome the limits of current approaches regarding local security?

ПСИХОЛОГІЧНІ НАСЛІДКИ УЧАСТІ ОСОБИСТОСТІ В БОЙОВИХ ДІЯХ

Prolonged military conflict in the territory of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts of the state, its further uncertainty, potential threat to life and health, prolonged stay in the area of hostilities, unsettled life, heavy physical and psychological stress on personnel and other factors of combat situation long-term disorders of the psyche, reduce the combat capability of military units (units). Along with gaining combat experience, participants in the war in the East of our country are physically and mentally traumatized, requiring further professional help and rehabilitation. The creation of an effective system of psychological assistance and rehabilitation in the present conditions is possible only with the understanding of the psychological consequences of the participation of personnel in hostilities in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions.Purpose. Аnalysis of the psychological consequences of military involvement.Methods.The theoretical methods of research were used to solve the problems set in the work: analysis of scientific sources on the problem of research, synthesis, comparison, generalization.Originality .The article deals with the stress factors of the combat situation; stages, mechanisms and socio-psychological determinants that determine the process of experiencing mental trauma by military personnel are analyzed Conclusion: Analysis of the scientific literature and practice of the use of troops (forces) during the operation of the Joint Force allows to distinguish the following characteristics of modern military activity of military personnel: great socio-psychological significance, specific goals (destruction of the enemy), extreme conditions (danger, suddenness, novelty ), high tension of moral and physical forces. Among the significant extreme stressors of particular importance are: terminal factors, visual destruction, social factors, information factors, biological factors, the factor of forced destructive activity, the factor of social insecurity, the absence of clearly defined socio-political positions in relation to the conflict.The study of the influence of stressors of the combat situation on the mental sphere of the individual allows to distinguish negative and positive personal transformations. Positive transformations, in our opinion, can be attributed to: formation of a more serious attitude to life, deep understanding of vital values, strengthening of purposefulness, rationality, realism, ingenuity and critical thinking, presence of positive changes in self-perception and self-esteem, positive as a whole can take a person to a new level of development. However, the participation of military personnel in combat is a predictor of the development of acute reactions to stress, PTSD, various disorders of adaptation, persistent personality changes, the emergence of family problems, social isolation, hostility to the environment, abuse of drugs and alcohol, etc.We see prospects for further research in substantiating the recommendations for improving the system of psychological assistance and rehabilitation in the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Prevalence and associated factors for rural households food insecurity in selected districts of east Gojjam zone, northern Ethiopia: cross-sectional study

BackgroundFood insecurity is a pressing social and public health issue that varies in degree and impact on individuals and social groups, requiring immediate attention for policymakers and decision-makers. This study was conducted to identify the prevalence and associated factors of food insecurity of rural households particularly in the Shebel Berenta and Machakel districts of East Gojjam zone.MethodsA cross-sectional study design was conducted, in the fall of March 2017 among 504 households. Households are selected using a systematic sampling technique through multistage cluster sampling technique (two stage cluster sampling). The data were collected using a structured interviewer-administered questionnaire covering a range of topics including 18 core food security modules (CFSM) question series, socioeconomic, demographic and related variables. Multivariable Partial proportional odds model (PPOM) was employed to identify the factors associated with food insecurity in rural households.ResultOf a total of 504 households considered in the study, 54 (10.71%) were highly food secure, 75 (14.88%) were marginally food secure, 157 (31.15%) were low food secure, and 218 (43.25%) were severely food insecure. District (Machakel) (AOR = 3.28 95% CI: 1.73, 6.24), household head education status, illiterate (AOR = 113.4, 95% CI:7.02,1832.02), read and write (AOR = 169.29, 95%CI:11.64, 2461.39), and elementary completed (AOR = 119.75,95%CI:8.43,1700.74), agro-ecological zone, Woina Dega (AOR = 0.0021,95% CI: 0.00009,0.0514), Dega (AOR = 0.0323, 95%CI: 0.002, 0.5209), family size (AOR = 1.18, 95%CI: 1.01, 1.36), landholding (AOR = 0.767, 95% CI: 0.605, 0.972), TLU (AOR = 0.151, 95% CI: 0.0716, 0.3189), access to toilet (no) (AOR = 7.63, 95% CI: 1.459, 39.78), practicing irrigation (yes) (AOR = 0.121, 95% CI: 0.037, 0.38), loan (no) (AOR = 2.83, 95% CI:1.36, 5.89), access to energy, government electric (AOR = 0.468, 95% CI: 0.23, 0.94), solar panels (AOR = 0.45, 95% CI: 0.25, 0.79), soil fertility, moderate (AOR = 0.28, 95% CI: 0.12, 0.87), fertile (AOR = 0.15, 95% CI: 0.032, 0.72) were significant associated food insecurity factors in the study area.ConclusionIn this study, a high prevalence of food insecurity and various associated food insecurity factors have been identified in the study area. Thus, the concerned stockholders should intervene in food insecure households via different irrigation practices and by considering household size, community-based household head education, and landholding in hectare.

Assessing geopolitics as Nepal's national security challenge

The increased geo-strategic interests and concerns of great powers have posed serious challenges to national security of Nepal. This article objectively analyzes the impacts of geopolitics on Nepal's national security. It intends to examine the National security within the framework of geopolitical rivalry. Geopolitics is rather a crucial external factor than the other internal factors of insecurity. Thus, this article attempts to justify how regional and global geopolitical developments challenge Nepal's national security. This article explains geopolitical factors that can pose threat and challenge to national security.

Topic: The United Nations and the Management of Humanitarian Crisis Risks: An Analysis Based on the Contractualist Philosophies of Thomas Hobbes and John Locke

This article is a sociology of international law analysis that aims to understand and better assess the application of the United Nations Charter regarding the management of humanitarian crisis risks, on the basis of the logic that underpins the creation, structuring and functioning of the United Nations. By confronting this logic with the Hobbesian and Lockean contractualist philosophies, this article notices its identification to these philosophies, with a Hobbesian predominance. Consequently, the results of the United Nations efforts with regard to the management of humanitarian crisis risks are considerable but are not sufficient to meet the problem of perpetual insecurity for all members of international society. The answers to the problem of insecurity theorized by Hobbes and Locke, although valuable, are limited in their conception of human nature, particularly its ontological individualism. It is from the option for an orientation of this one that result their respective models of political formations which do not make it possible to curb the insecurity under an identity basis that persists in the case of the United Nations mission regarding the management of humanitarian crisis risks. Thus, another orientation of that individualism, especially towards the sense of an ontological identification of Men could have reinforced these solutions, not only on a purely ethical basis, but also on the concrete evidence that the pursuit of security of some to the detriment of others, on a discriminatory identity basis is the main factor of insecurity for all. So for better results from the commitment of crisis risks management, the United Nations have to address this major issue.

Identification of food insecurity factors in French-speaking Belgium: a qualitative study

BackgroundDiet is an essential determinant of health. Among the health determinants, we find access problems that are summarized as food insecurity. While such food insecurity has been studied in other countries and correlated to several health problems, it has been scarcely assessed in Belgium. The purpose of this work was to determine the factors of food insecurity existing within the Belgian population.MethodFrom November 2016 to February 2017, a qualitative study using semi-structured interviews with 19 adults present attending the waiting rooms of six Public Social Action Centers in French-speaking Belgium, analyzed by grounded theory.ResultsIn Belgium, for given food preferences and needs, food insecurity could be summarized as inadequacy between necessary and available resources within two dimensions: at the access level, for financial, temporal, informational, and freedom of action, and at the food use level, for temporal factors, material, knowledge, and skills. In these situations of inadequacy, participants reported finding either strategies to restore balance, or being forced to alter the quality or quantity of their diet.ConclusionWhile several factors of food insecurity may exist in Belgium, it appears essential that the first line of care these factors into consideration, since they could interfere with care and health, and because the first line of care is ideally placed to inform and refer the patients in question. Several courses of action are proposed in this work, which must still be confirmed by other studies.

Socio-economic risk factors of household food insecurity and their population attributable risk: A population-based study.

Background: Food insecurity as a major public health problem has associations with a wide range of adverse consequences on health and quality of life. The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of food insecurity among Iranian households, its key socioeconomic risk factors and population attributable risk via a large-scale cross-sectional study in the capital of Iran. Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed among 30,809 households with complete questionnaires of food security, during 2011. The univariate test was used to investigate the association between economic status and covariates with household food insecurity. Multiple logistic regression model was used to assess the independent effect of economic status on household food insecurity. Results: Totally, 37.8% (95% CI: 37.25, 38.34%) of the households were food insecure. There were significant associations between economic status and household food insecurity after adjustment for other variables (p-value<0.001). The extent of household food insecurity that could be attributed to the economic status in the 1st and 2nd quintiles (poorest and poor households), compared with the 5th quintile (richest households), was estimated to be 48.43% and 60.12%, respectively. Conclusion: Food insecurity is relatively prevalent among households in Tehran. Economic status was identified as the most significant determinant of household food security, as 62.7% of poorest households were food insecure. Therefore, there is a crucial need to address food insecurity as a priority in food policies.

HEALTH, WORRY, AND FOOD INSECURITY IN LOW-INCOME U.S. ADULTS: AN EXPLORATION OF MIDLIFE VULNERABILITY

Food insecurity, defined as the inability to afford and access nutritious foods to eat, is associated with poor health, higher healthcare costs, and increased risk of mortality (Gundersen et al., 2018). Moreover, food insecurity appears to accelerate aging processes. For example, food insecurity is associated with inadequate nutrition, which expedites the loss of muscle mass, increases mobility problems, increases financial worry, and increases the risk of frailty. While a good deal is known about food insecurity in later life, far less is known about midlife, which may be a time of unexplored vulnerability. We examined food insecurity in a sample (n=17,866; 2014 NHIS) of low-income (PIR<3) young, early-middle, late-middle, and older adults (18-84), focusing on health challenges (chronic conditions, functional limitations) and financial worry as predictors and whether their effects varied with age. Multinomial logistic regression was used to assess the association of predictors with food insecurity and determine whether associations differed by age group, adjusted for covariates (e.g., sex, race/ethnicity, education, social security). Food insecurity rates were highest in late- (37.5%) and early- (36.0%) midlife followed by young (33.7%) and older (20.2%) adults. Age moderated the relationship between food insecurity and risk factors (p < .05 for both) such that health was stronger- but financial worry was weaker- in midlife (due to higher food insecurity in low- and high- worry groups). Midlife is a period of increased vulnerability to food insecurity, particularly for those with health challenges. Research is needed to inform prevention strategies to help ensure optimal aging.

THE SEARCH STUDY: A QUALITATIVE INQUIRY INTO DIVERSE STAKEHOLDER PERSPECTIVES ON HEALTHY AGING ACROSS CHICAGOLAND

Older adults face increased risk of chronic diseases of aging such as Alzheimer’s dementia and other adverse age-related outcomes. However, the conceptualization of healthy aging and how age-related issues are addressed in community-based structures, particularly among racial and ethnic minorities, remain poorly understood, especially from the Stakeholder perspective. Stakeholders, such as faith leaders and members of community-based organizations, engage in regular negotiations to advance health equity in their communities by partnering and collaborating with older adults and their families as well as other local and federal organizations. The Stakeholder Engagement in Aging Research and Community Health (SEARCH) Study employs multiple research methods to illuminate Stakeholders’ perspectives on barriers and facilitators to healthy aging in diverse communities. This presentation highlights findings from in-depth, qualitative interviews with Stakeholders (N=37) serving African American, Latinx, and South Asian older adults. Emergent themes suggest that systemic racism, stigmatization, limited health literacy, and cultural beliefs serve as barriers to healthy aging across groups. Within groups, Stakeholders report precarious immigration status and fragile and fragmented life situations as barriers among Latinx older adults, while acculturative stress presents a challenge to healthy aging in South Asian older adults. Food insecurity and neighborhood factors such as exposure to violence and socio-economic disadvantages act as barriers among African American older adults. Conversely, religious faith and spirituality, familial support, and culturally-congruent care serve as facilitators across groups. The findings from this study underscore the continued need for intersectional, inclusive, and culturally-informed approaches to supporting healthy aging within diverse communities.

Socio-economic risk factors of household food insecurity and their population attributable risk: A population-based study

Socio-economic risk factors of household food insecurity and their population attributable risk: A population-based study