Determinants Of Food Insecurity Research Articles

Food Insecurity Transition Among Agricultural Households In Nigeria

ABSTRACT: Hunger continues to be on the increase and food crises remain a developmental challenge. The incidence of food insecurity in the country has heightened in recent years due to unprecedented natural hazards, economic shocks and climate change, which have eroded livelihoods and worsened the country’s performance in food security-related indices. We therefore used the panel data from Nigeria to examine the food insecurity transition among agricultural households. The data covered four rounds. The food insecurity status of agricultural households was estimated using the Foster-Greer-Thorbecke measure. We explained the interaction among the states of food security of agricultural households across different periods using the food insecurity transition matrix. The determinants of food insecurity were explored using the dynamic probit model. The model addressed unobserved heterogeneity, state dependency, and serial correlation arising from the data and model. Findings revealed that the mean food expenditure increased across the period. Similarly, mean per capita food expenditure also increased across periods except for the 2012/2013 period where it dropped slightly. We observed a rising incidence of food insecurity across the period from 44.1% in 2010/2011 to 53.4% in 2018/2019 representing a 21.1% increase in food insecurity incidence. Widening inequality exists even among the food insecure. Our findings revealed that 87.6% of households are transitorily food insecure, 5.5% are chronically food insecure and 7% are food secured. The significant factors driving food insecurity across the period were the area of land under cultivation, the fall in the price of outputs, and the increase in the price of major food items. Coping strategies employed were eating less preferred foods, restriction in diversity of foods eaten, limiting food portions, and minimizing the frequency of meal consumption. It is therefore important that the government encourage the adoption of yield-enhancing technologies to ensure household food security. Rising prices of major food items and fall in output price gives a cause for concern over the macroeconomic environment in the country, which fuels rising food prices. Policymakers should exercise caution when implementing exchange rate policies that may affect food and output prices, given the impact they have on the livelihood and household security of smallholders.

Prevalence and determinants of food insecurity among pregnant women in Nigeria: A multilevel mixed effects analysis.

Food insecurity (FI) remains a key priority for sustainable development. Despite the well-known consequences of food insecurity on health and well-being, evidence regarding the burden and determinants of FI among pregnant women in Nigeria is limited. Framed by the social-ecological model, this study aimed to determine the prevalence of FI, and its associations with individual-/household-level and contextual-level factors among pregnant women in Nigeria. A cross-sectional study based on the Nigerian Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (2021 Nigerian MICS6) was conducted among a sample of 3519 pregnant women aged 15-49 years. Several weighted multilevel multinomial logistic regression models were fitted to assess the association between individual-/household-s level and community-level characteristics with FI. We estimated and reported both fixed effects and random effects to measure the associations and variations, respectively. Results: The prevalence of FI among pregnant women in Nigeria was high, with nearly 75% of the participants reporting moderate to severe FI in the past 12 months (95% CI = 71.3%-75.8%) in 2021. There were also significant differences in all the experiences of food insecurity due to lack of money or resources, as measured by the Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES), except for feeling hungry but not eating because of lack of money or resources (p < 0.0001). Multivariate analysis revealed that higher parity, households with 5 or more members, household wealth index, urban residence, and community-level poverty were significantly associated with FI. Our study demonstrates a significantly high prevalence of FI among pregnant women in Nigeria in 2021. Given the negative consequences of FI on maternal and child health, implementing interventions to address FI during pregnancy remains critical to improving pregnancy outcomes.

Urban nutrition situation in the slums of three cities in Asia during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Urban-poor households are disproportionately food insecure. The Status and Determinants of Food Insecurity and Undernutrition in Poor Urban Settings (SDFU)cross-sectional surveys were conducted in 2020-2021 to assess the impacts of COVID-19on food security and diet quality among urban poor women of reproductive age (WRA)and children under 5 (CU5)in Jakarta, Quezon City, and Yangon. Data, collected on food insecurity and child and maternal diet quality using Computer Assisted Telephone Interviewing (CATI),were compared with prepandemic surveys. Prevalence for food insecurity and diet quality indicators were computed. Eight in 10 households in all three cities reported reduced incomes, with 6 in 10 worried about food the previous year. Over 10% of households in all cities substituted nutrient-dense (ND)foods with cheaper alternatives; yet less than 50% of children 6-59 months ate sugar-sweetened beverages or sweet and savoury snacks. Compared with baseline, women's minimum dietary diversity (MDD)in the three cities was significantly lower (up to 30% lower in Yangon and Jakarta), while the prevalence of children (6-23 months) meeting MDD was lower by 17.4%-42.5% in all cities. MDD was attained by >40% of children (24-59 months) in Yangon and Jakarta but only 12.6% in Quezon City. To improve food security and diet quality, multi-sectoral interventions are needed, including distributing ND foods and cash assistance to vulnerable households with CU5 and WRA and delivering targeted nutrition training to encourage appropriate complementary feeding practices and purchasing and consumption of ND foods.

Determinants of the food insecurity at household level in Pakistan: A multilevel model approach.

Food insecurity is a major concern for the developing world and around 37% of the population of Pakistan is food insecure. This paper utilizes the Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES) to assess the population prevalence of food insecurity and to identify their risk factors and determinants at the household level in Pakistan. This study employs a multi-level random coefficient model, using the Pakistan Panel Household Survey (PPHS-2010) dataset; representative data from 4,130 households. Factors like; income of the household, gender, education, household size, land ownership, and shocks of food insecurity allow the incidence of idiosyncratic shocks (injuries and/or casualties) at the community level, which affects the food insecurity situation of the community, rather differently were included. The study confirms a statistically significant inverse relationship between household income, household size, and household head education with food insecurity and a positive association of shocks and inflation with food insecurity at the household level. Specifically, with increasing per capita income of the household, food insecurity declines (coefficient: -0.083, statistically significant at 1%) and food insecurity increases with shocks (coefficient: 0.058, statistically significant at 1% significance level). The study also reveals a significant heterogeneity at a one percent significance level in the determinants of food insecurity at the district, community, and household levels. The income of the household, household head gender and education level, household size, household assets, shocks, injuries, and inflationary pressure are important determinants of food insecurity in Pakistan.

Determinants of food insecurity and coping mechanisms in Offa district, Southern Ethiopia

Food is an essential requirement for human survival, growth, and health. Despite the fact that the right to be free from hunger is the most fundamental human right that can be achieved, a substantial number of people worldwide experience food insecurity. This study examined the factors that influence household food insecurity and the coping mechanisms adopted by households during food crises in the Offa district, southern Ethiopia. This study included 144 households from three kebeles, and the interview schedule method was used to collect data from the respondents. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the characteristics of households and coping techniques used during food scarcity. Statistical methods, such as the chi-square test and t-test, were used to compare food-secure and food-insecure sampling households in relation to the explanatory variables. The Food Consumption Score (FCS) method was used to determine the level of household caloric availability. Determinants of food insecurity were identified using a binary logit model. The empirical model consisted of 11 explanatory variables. Off-farm income, educational level of the family head, access to credit, livestock ownership, dependence ratio, cultivated farm size, extension services, and technology adoption were found to be statistically significant in determining food insecurity. Coping strategies used by households, such as limiting food intake, borrowing money, rationing money, and skipping meals have been discovered. Based on these findings, it is suggested that all pertinent bodies prioritize improving rural farmers' incomes, promoting extension services, encouraging access to basic education, promoting off-farm and non-farm employment opportunities, and introducing livestock development packages to improve food security for rural households.

Identifying the Status and Determinants of Food insecurity in North Central Ethiopia: A case Study from Borena District, Ethiopia

Currently, food insecurity is a global concern particularly in the developing nations like Ethiopia despite there is governmental efforts. Thus, the main purpose of this study was to identify the status and determinants of rural households’ food security in Borena district, north central Ethiopia. The study followed the positivism world view with a cross sectional study design. The study used multistage sampling procedure which involves a combination of purposive and random sampling techniques to select 358 sample household heads. Household sample survey was the main means that was used to acquire primary data. To identify the status of food insecurity and its determinants, Dietary Energy Supply indicator and Binary logistic regressions model were respectively employed. The results showed that about 71.7% of the respondents were food unsecured households. A binary logistic regression model which was used in the study confirmed that education, cultivated farm size, improved seeds, urban linkages and access to health extension workers positively determined the food security while family size (population pressure) negatively determined the food security status of the households in the study area. Thus, the stakeholders (government bodies, non-governmental organizations, humanitarian agents and community leaders) need to intervene on regularly consumed nutritious foods. Policy reformers and designers should also work hard to reform and design policies on improvements in rural households’ education, size of cultivated land, access to health extension workers, improved seeds and rural- urban linkage in order to alleviate their food security constraints.

Magnitude and determinants of food insecurity among pregnant women in Rwanda during the COVID-19 pandemic

Globally, food insecurity is becoming a major public health concern, and has seriously been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. In the last decade, Rwanda has made significant improvement in terms of overall household food security. However, the magnitude of food insecurity among pregnant women is not well known. This study investigated the magnitude and factors associated with food insecurity among pregnant women during the COVID-19 pandemic. It was a cross-sectional study conducted in 30 health facilities across the country where a total of 1159 pregnant women in their first trimester of pregnancy were recruited during antenatal care visits (ANC). A pre-tested, standardized, and structured questionnaire was used to collect information on food insecurity based on household food insecurity access scale (HFIAS). Descriptive statistics were used to describe the basic characteristics of the study respondents and the status of household food insecurity. Logistic regression analysis was performed to estimate the predictors of food insecurity at a significance level of 5%. The majority (78.1%) of recruited pregnant women were aged 20 to 35 years and 70.3% were from rural areas. Overall, 53.1% of pregnant women were food insecure during COVID-19 pandemic. Pregnant women with low education level {AOR=4.58; 95%CI=1.88-11.15} and from low social economic households {AOR=2.45; 95%CI=1.59-3.76} were more likely to become food insecure during COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, women from households with farming as the main source of income had 64% more risk of food insecurity compared to women from household with other sources of monthly income. To achieve the sustainable development goals (SDGs) targets related to food security, there is urgent need to transform the agricultural sector from traditional farming to modern/technology farming. This will reduce the level of food insecurity in developing countries. There is also a need to provide social safety nets to pregnant women from families in lower socio-economic categories during pandemics.

Prevalence and determinants of food insecurity during the 2022 COVID-19 related lockdown in Shanghai

ABSTRACT The SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus pandemic has led to increased food insecurity levels. This cross-sectional study examines the prevalence and determinants of food insecurity during the two-month (1 April to 1 June 2022) city-wide lockdown in Shanghai. The data was collected via an online questionnaire from 3230 adult Shanghai residents during the lockdown. Food insecurity was measured using an adapted version of the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale. Nearly 70% of participants reported being exposed to food insecurity. Using multivariable logistic regressions, we examined the associations between key correlates (i.e. age, income, lockdown-related income loss, migration, employment status, social capital, preparedness, and received social support) and overall food insecurity while adjusting for ethnicity, gender, education, household size, and marital status. Results showed that compared to local Shanghai residents, migrants (i.e, permanent migrants with Hukou (OR = 2.16), permanent migrants without Hukou (OR = 2.06), temporary migrants (OR = 2.74)), and participants with less than or greather than 50% lockdown-related income loss (OR = 2.60, OR = 3.09), were associated with higher odds of overall food insecurity. Participants with greater preparedness (OR = 0.66), greater bonding social capital (OR = 0.93), and greater bridging social capital (OR = 0.94), had lower odds of overall food insecurity. Targeted interventions are needed to enhance food resilience and health equity among vulnerable populations.

The Determinants of Food Insecurity Among Hispanic/Latinx Households With Young Children: A Narrative Review.

Food insecurity has disproportionately impacted Hispanic/Latinx households in the United States, specifically those with young children. Although the literature provides evidence of an association between food insecurity and adverse health outcomes in young children, minimal research has addressed the social determinants and related risk factors associated with food insecurity among Hispanic/Latinx households with children under three, a highly vulnerable population. Using the Socio-Ecological Model (SEM) as a framework, this narrative review identified factors associated with food insecurity among Hispanic/Latinx households with children under three. A literature search was conducted using PubMed and four additional search engines. Inclusion criteria consisted of articles published in English from November 1996 to May 2022 that examined food insecurity among Hispanic/Latinx households with children under three. Articles were excluded if conducted in settings other than the US and/or focused on refugees and temporary migrant workers. Data were extracted (i.e., objective, setting, population, study design, measures of food insecurity, results) from the final articles (n = 27). The strength of each article's evidence was also evaluated. Results identified individual factors (i.e., intergenerational poverty, education, acculturation, language, etc.), interpersonal factors (i.e., household composition, social support, cultural customs), organizational factors (i.e., interagency collaboration, organizational rules), community factors (i.e., food environment, stigma, etc.), and public policy/societal factors (i.e., nutrition assistance programs, benefit cliffs, etc.) associated with a food security status of this population. Overall, most articles were classified as "medium" or higher quality for the strength of evidence, and more frequently focused on individual or policy factors. Findings indicate the need for more research to include a focus on public policy/society factors, as well as on multiple levels of the SEM with considerations of how individual and policy levels intersect and to create or adapt nutrition-related and culturally appropriate interventions to improve food security of Hispanic/Latinx households with young children.

The determinants of food insecurity among developing countries: Are there any differences?

It has been widely recognized that certain socioeconomic factors play a crucial role in explaining food insecurity in a country or region. Yet, while the evidence continues to indicate substantial discrepancies in food insecurity across developing economies, no empirical study has attempted to determine the causes of these discrepancies. This study aimed to identify the leading causes of food insecurity in 107 developing countries spread across three separate continents between 2000 and 2019. The study employed recent techniques in data analysis that deal with heterogeneous panel methods robust to cross-sectional dependence. The panel-corrected standard error (PCSE) technique, which was used in the analysis, showed that disparities in food insecurity were not due to population growth, health services, or food production, since they had similar effects in all of the developing economies in Africa, Asia and the Latin America and the Caribbean region. However, political institutions, per capita income, and education were vital factors that explained the observed disparities in malnutrition between them.

Determinants of food insecurity in food aid receiving communities in Ethiopia

This study analyzed households' food security and its determinants along with the coping mechanisms opted against food insecurity while assessing the food security interventions in southern Ethiopia. Combination of emergency and project food aids are the two major intervention strategies enforced to alleviate food insecurity in the area. The results from descriptive statistics show that 74.17% of the surveyed households were food insecure. The logit model result revealed that sex, age, education level of household head, family size and access to remittance were significant factors that affect the status of household's food security. Finally, empowering women, fair aid targeting on older households, strengthening formal and informal education, awareness creation on effective family planning and reducing the dependency syndrome and encouraging entrepreneurship were identified to factors that potentially improve food security on the households. • Food aid cannot achieve food security by itself. • Some of the food aid is stolen and sold in the market place. • Cash for work provides employment opportunities and generate public goods. • Food aid program participation had an association with social connection. • Prolonged aid-dependency results loss of skills and aspiration failure.

Burden of Food Insecurity and Mental Health Symptoms among Adults with Cardiometabolic Conditions during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Our study objectives were to (1) identify the national prevalence and patterns of food insecurity among adults with and without a history of CMCs and (2) determine associations between food insecurity and mental health outcomes among adults with CMCs during the early COVID-19 pandemic period (April–June 2020). We computed prevalence ratios with Poisson regression using the robust estimation of standard errors to identify disparities in the report of food insecurity across demographic groups and by CMC history. Among adults with CMCs, we estimated associations between food insecurity and self-reported mental health symptoms using multinomial logistic regression. Overall, people with CMCs were more likely to be older, White, without employment in the past 7 days, and from the South or an urban environment. We found that the determinants of food insecurity among individuals with cardiometabolic conditions include having: <60 years of age, female sex, Black or Hispanic race/ethnicity, an educational degree lower than a baccalaureate, a household income of <$100,000, and either Medicaid, Indian Health Insurance, or no insurance. Individuals with CMCs and food insecurity also had significantly higher odds of adverse mental health symptoms. The continued clinical screening of food insecurity and mental health, as well as public health interventions, targeted toward individuals with CMCs, should be prioritized as we move through the COVID-19 pandemic.

Determinants of Food Insecurity and the Choice of Livelihood Strategies: The Case of Abay Chomen District, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia.

Most of the sub-Saharan African countries including Ethiopia were affected by the food insecurity issue. This study aimed to analyze the drivers of food insecurity, the choice of livelihood strategies, and factors that impact the choices of food security strategies in response to food insecurity in Abay Chomen District of Ethiopia's Oromia region, Ethiopia. The result of this study is based on primary data and obtained from 150 randomly chosen sample households and secondary data generated from various sources. As for the technique of data analysis, this study employed descriptive statistics for the food insecurity index, as well as a binary logistic model and a multinomial logit model for the choice of household livelihood techniques. The findings of the survey showed that 51.3% of the households were found to be food-insecure and 48.7% food-safe in the study area. Furthermore, the result indicated that the average calorie consumption of the households surveyed was 2008.54 kcal for each adult equivalent per day, which is below the lowest calorie necessity of 2200 kcal. The estimated logistic model outcome on the drivers of household food insecurity confirmed the oldness of the household leader, larger family holder, and off-farm income affects negatively, while the gender of the household leader, the size of the built-up area, the number of livestock holdings (except oxen), the number of oxen owned, access to credit, the participation in the sale of cattle, and others affect positively. In addition, the multinomial logit model result indicates that the educational status of the household leader, the size of livestock farming, the number of oxen possessed, access to credit, remoteness to the market, and monthly agricultural earning are the main drivers of the choice of livelihood strategies of concern for the food insecurity of households. As a result, this research attempted to produce a result of analysis with a defined scope, although many questions remain unsolved. Future studies should concentrate on presenting fundamental data on the factors that affect food security status and livelihood strategy, the social, political, natural, and environmental aspects, the descriptive information on the shopping habits of people who experience food insecurity, and the key aspects that increase the vulnerability of the rural poor to food insecurity.

Understanding the impacts of COVID-19 on the determinants of food insecurity: A state-specific examination

This paper examines risk factors influencing food insecurity during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic in a state in the U.S. heavily impacted by it and offers recommendations for multi-sector intervention.The U.S. Census Bureau Household Pulse Survey was analyzed to evaluate the impacts of COVID-19 on food security in Massachusetts from April 2020 through March 2021 using a study sample of 57,678 participants. Food security was defined as a categorical variable (food security, marginal food security, low food security, very low food security) and binary variable (food security and food insecurity). Known or suspected factors that contribute to it, such as childcare, education, employment, housing, and transportation were examined in multivariate logistic regression models. Data imputation methods accounted for missing data.Sociodemographic characteristics, including lower education level and living in a household with children, were determinants of food insecurity. Another factor that influenced food insecurity was economic hardships, such as unemployment, being laid off due to COVID-19, not working due to concerns about contracting or spreading COVID-19, or not having enough money to buy food. A third factor influencing food insecurity was food environment, such as lack of geographic access to healthy foods. Some of these factors have been exacerbated by the pandemic and will continue to impact food security. These should be addressed through a comprehensive approach with public health efforts considering all levels of the social ecological model and the context created by the pandemic.

Food insecurity in pastoral communities of Ngorongoro conservation area, Tanzania

BackgroundFood insecurity increases the risks of hunger and malnutrition and remains a formidable health challenge in resource-poor settings. Pastoral communities, which are largely restricted to marginal lands, tend to experience heightened levels of food insecurity. However, empirical evidence of food insecurity for communities living on the edge of conservation areas is limited. This study assessed the prevalence and determinants of food insecurity in pastoral communities of Ngorongoro, Tanzania.MethodsData were collected through a household survey (n = 238), key informant interview and field observation. Food insecurity was measured through Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS). Data were subjected to descriptive statistics, principal component analysis, and multivariate regression analysis.ResultsBased on three HFIAS domains, the surveyed communities experience anxiety and uncertainty about food supply (77.3% of the households), insufficient quality in terms of variety and preferences (74.1%), and insufficient food intake (55.9%). Overall, more than half (55%) of the households are food insecure. Multivariate logistic regression models adjusted for socio-demographic characteristics show that household food insecurity is independent of socio-demographic factors. Culture, environmental factors, and production system determine food access, food consumption practices, and overall household food security. The odds of food insecurity are higher in households whose location to the market exceeds 5 km [AOR (95% CI) = 6.20 (1.66–9.09)] and those reporting limited access to water [AOR (95% CI) = 1.09 (0.17–6.43]. A similar pattern is recorded in households not owning small stocks [AOR (95% CI) = 1.12 (0.41–1.65)] or donkeys [AOR (95% CI) = 1.19 (0.18–7.65)].ConclusionEmpirical evidence shows that the prevalence of food insecurity in the study community is high. This situation emanates from a wide range of factors including those linked to culture, physical environment, and production system. Thus, interventions are needed to leverage nutrition education, promote sustainable energy technologies, and develop strategic social service infrastructure in the community development zone. There is also a need to look into long-term settlement plans with the view to improve the welfare of the pastoral communities.

Food Insecurity, Dietary Diversity, and Coping Strategies in Jordan during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study.

The 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an emerging respiratory infection with severe impacts on the nutritional status of the worldwide population. This cross-sectional study was conducted to assess the food insecurity, dietary diversity, and food-related coping strategies in Jordan during the pandemic using an online, self-administered questionnaire. Among the 740 adults who completed the survey, the prevalence of food security was 84.1%, whereas 2% and 13.9% were moderately and severely food-insecure, respectively. The determinants of food insecurity were educational level, monthly income, marital status, availability of health insurance, and type of residence. In addition, food insecurity was significantly higher among the participants who consumed two or fewer meals per day (p = 0.015). Moreover, an acceptable food consumption score was shown among 76.2% of the participants, and the remaining participants were at borderline (14.1%) or had poor scores (9.7%), with a significant association between food insecurity and food consumption scores (p < 0.001). The food-related coping strategies studied were significantly associated with food insecurity at both levels (p < 0.001) and were more evident in the severely food-insecure group. These findings highlight the adverse effects of COVID-19 restrictions on nutritional status, especially among food-insecure households, which might reduce food accessibility due to economic difficulties.

Food Insecurity Among the Adult Population of Colombia Between 2016 and 2019: The Post Peace Agreement Situation.

Background:In 2016, a Peace Agreement, explicitly addressing the right to food, was signed, marking the end of more than 50 years of armed conflict and the longest war in the Americas. The expectation was that the years to follow would be marked by rapid social and political change, with the potential to improve food security.Objectives:(i) Ascertain changes in the prevalence of food insecurity in Colombia between 2016 and 2019; (ii) examine which population subgroups (eg, urban women, rural women, urban men, and rural men) were most vulnerable; and (iii) determine significant individual-level factors predicting food insecurity in these 2 years.Methods:This study used the Gallup World Poll 2016 and 2019 nationally representative samples of Colombian adults aged 15 and older for the analyses (n ≈ 1000 per year). Food insecurity was measured using the Food Insecurity Experience Scale. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression analyses were conducted using IBM SPSS Complex Samples (version 26).Results:Food insecurity in Colombia increased by 7 percentage points between 2016 and 2019 (from 33% to 40%); women living in rural areas in 2019 reported the highest prevalence (50%). Results from logistic analysis confirm low income, unemployment, and lack of social support were significant predictors of food insecurity in both years. In 2019, gender, low education, and lack of autonomy were also significant predictors. Further research on the determinants of food insecurity is necessary to inform Colombian policies and programs that address food insecurity. The urgency to act is more apparent than ever, given the country’s worsening food security profile.

Determinants of food insecurity among households with children in Villa el Salvador, Lima, Peru: the role of gender and employment, a cross-sectional study

BackgroundFrom 2014–2019, Latin America and the Caribbean had the fastest growth of moderate-to-severe food insecurity than any other region, rising from 22.9% to 31.7%. While the prevalence of food insecurity is higher among women than men in every continent, Latin America has the largest food insecurity gender gap. Factors contributing to this gender inequity include underrepresentation of women in formal employment, heightened burden of dependent care on women, and unequal compensation of labor for women vs. men. The objective of this study was to investigate the association between the gender of the head of the household, employment status of household members, and food insecurity in households with children in a low-income district of Lima, Peru.MethodsThis cross-sectional study was carried out in Villa El Salvador, the fifth largest district in Metropolitan Lima, Peru, where over 20% of the population lives in poverty. Data were collected on a stratified random sample (n = 329) using a household questionnaire, including a validated food security tool (HFIAS). We ran multivariate logistic regression models predicting household food insecurity, with independent variables including gender of household head, education of household head, employment of household head, household-level employment status, age, and weekly food expenses per person.ResultsIn fully adjusted models, woman-headed households had almost thrice the odds of being food insecure compared to man-headed households. Education also had a significant effect size: a household whose household head did not complete high school was 3.4 times more likely to be food insecure than if they had some post-secondary education. Woman-headed households had a significantly higher proportion of members not formally employed, compared to man-headed households, but employment status was not associated with food insecurity.ConclusionsGender of the household head was a major contributing factor to household food insecurity in Villa el Salvador. Gender dynamics affecting opportunities for employment, education, and non-remunerated work should inform national food security policies and interventions with the goal to not only lower food insecurity, but also reduce gender inequities in food insecurity and other nutritional outcomes.

Food Insecurity among College Students

OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence and determinants of food insecurity among college students at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) during the COVID 19 pandemic. &#x0D; &#x0D; DESIGN: Cross-sectional study that collected online survey data from a convenience sample of college students. Setting: UNLV, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States. Participants: 310 UNLV students 18 years of age and older, who were enrolled during the 2020 Fall semester. &#x0D; &#x0D; RESULTS: A total of 29.4% (n=97) of the study participants were food insecure. Students with a household income greater than $50,000 were 81% less likely to be food insecure (P &amp;lt; 0.01) compared to students with a household income lower than $50,000. Students who reported their general health as good, fair, or poor were 2.19 times more likely to be food insecure (P = 0.02) compared to students who reported their general health as excellent or very good. For each increase in GPA of 1 point, the odds of being food insecure decreased by 58% (P = 0.01). &#x0D; &#x0D; CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights the high prevalence of food insecurity among UNLV students and provides public health professionals and policymakers with the scientific basis to develop interventions and policies aimed at reducing the rates of food insecurity among college students.

Food insecurity among Finnish private service sector workers: validity, prevalence and determinants.

To examine the prevalence and determinants of food insecurity among private sector service workers in Finland and assess validity of the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS) tool. In this cross-sectional study, food insecurity and background characteristics were collected from Finnish private service workers via electronic questionnaires (2019) and national register data (2018-2019). We conducted univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses to determine the variables explaining food insecurity. Validity of HFIAS was assessed with rotated principal component analysis and Cronbach's α. Members of the trade union for private sector service workers, Service Union United (PAM), from all municipalities in Finland participated in the study in 2019. The subjects were 6435 private sector workers that were members of the Service Union United (PAM) in Finland. Mean age of participants was 44 years (sd 12·7 years). Two-thirds of the participants (65 %) were food insecure with over a third (36 %) reporting severe food insecurity. Reporting great difficulties in covering household expenses and young age markedly increased the risk of severe food insecurity (OR 15·05; 95 % CI 10·60, 21·38 and OR 5·07; 95 % CI 3·94, 6·52, respectively). Not being married, low education, working in the hospitality industry, being male and living in rented housing also increased the probability of severe food insecurity. The HFIAS tool demonstrated acceptable construct and criterion validity. Severe food insecurity was widespread and associated with low socio-economic status, young age and being male among Finnish private sector service workers, emphasising the need for regular monitoring of food insecurity in Finland.