Household Food Security Status Research Articles

Determinants of Food Security Status of Agricultural Households: An Empirical Investigation from Kuttanad Wetland System in Kerala, India

Determinants of Food Security Status of Agricultural Households: An Empirical Investigation from Kuttanad Wetland System in Kerala, India

Food security status and cardiometabolic health by sex/gender and race/ethnicity among adults in the United States

BackgroundMinoritized racial/ethnic groups and women in the United States (US) are disproportionately burdened by food insecurity, which likely contributes to disparities in cardiovascular health (CVH). Disparities are projected to widen due to the worsening climate crisis that is straining the agricultural system including food supplies. Nonetheless, studies have not investigated the relationship between food security status and ‘ideal’ CVH in a large, nationally-representative and racially/ethnically diverse US sample.Methods and resultsWe investigated household food security status in relation to ‘ideal’ CVH among US adults (N = 157,001) using 2014–2018/2020 National Health Interview Survey data. Food security status was defined as very low, low, marginal, or high. A summed score of 4 health behaviors and 3 clinical factors totaling 7 different measures was dichotomized (yes/no) to assess modified ‘ideal’ CVH (mICVH). Using Poisson regression with robust variance, we estimated prevalence ratios (PRs) and 95% CIs of mICVH by household food security status. We stratified models by sex/gender and race/ethnicity. Very low food security prevalence was higher among non-Hispanic (NH)-Black (8.0%) compared to Hispanic/Latinx (5.1%), NH-White (3.1%) and NH-Asian (1.7%) adults. The association between very low versus high food security and mICVH was stronger among women (PR = 0.23 [95% CI: 0.17–0.31]) than men (PR = 0.48 [95% CI: 0.35–0.66]). Compared to NH-White adults with high food security, racially/ethnically minoritized groups with very low to high food security were generally less likely (range: [PRvery low = 0.25[95% CI: 0.14–0.44] – [PRhigh = 0.88 [95% CI: 0.79–0.97]) to meet mICVH criteria.ConclusionsFood insecurity was associated with lower mICVH prevalence and racially/ethnically minoritized groups were disproportionately burdened.

The Household Food Security Status of Food Assistance Programs and Food Security Initiatives

Purpose: The general objective of the study was to investigate the household food security status of food assistance programs and food security initiatives. Methodology: The study adopted a desktop research methodology. Desk research refers to secondary data or that which can be collected without fieldwork. Desk research is basically involved in collecting data from existing resources hence it is often considered a low cost technique as compared to field research, as the main cost is involved in executive’s time, telephone charges and directories. Thus, the study relied on already published studies, reports and statistics. This secondary data was easily accessed through the online journals and library. Findings: The findings reveal that there exists a contextual and methodological gap relating to household food security status and food assistance programs. Preliminary empirical review revealed that food assistance programs, including SNAP, WIC, and school meal programs, played a critical role in improving food security among vulnerable populations. However, it emphasized the importance of adopting a holistic approach to address underlying causes of food insecurity, such as poverty and systemic inequalities. Community-based initiatives and efforts to strengthen local food systems were identified as promising complements to traditional food assistance programs. Targeted interventions tailored to the unique needs of different population groups were also deemed essential. Overall, the study highlighted the need for coordinated efforts from various stakeholders to build resilient and equitable food systems and ensure access to nutritious food for all. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: The Social Determinants of Health theory, Systems theory and Capability Approach may be used to anchor future studies on household food security. The study provided valuable recommendations that contributed to theory, practice, and policy in addressing food insecurity. It integrated theoretical frameworks such as the Social Determinants of Health (SDH) theory, highlighting the complex dynamics underlying food insecurity. Practically, it emphasized the importance of multi-sectoral approaches, community engagement, and participatory decision-making in program design and implementation. At the policy level, the study advocated for comprehensive strategies that prioritize food security as a fundamental human right, including strengthening and expanding existing food assistance programs, fostering collaboration among stakeholders, and promoting evidence-based policy reforms. Overall, the study advanced understanding and action on food security by addressing systemic drivers, promoting collaborative practices, and advocating for policy changes.

Social path assessment and food security status of rural households in Iran

IntroductionFood and nutrition are the most vital needs of human society and its provision lies in the category of food security. The concept of food security is very broad and is determined by the interaction of a range of biological, economic, social, agricultural, and physical factors. The purpose of this study is to investigate the social factors affecting food security among rural households.MethodsThis is quantitative research conducted by survey method. The statistical population included 384 rural households in Shiraz County that were selected by stratified random sampling. Data analysis was performed using SPSS and LISREL software.Results and discussionResults indicated that the values of combined reliability calculated for all three variables studied were >0.7, which implies that research tools have good reliability and validity. The results of structural analysis of social capital and social health variables with food security using confirmatory factor analysis techniques and structural equations showed social capital variable affects food security directly and social health variable has an indirect effect. According to the value of fitness indicators obtained; it was found that the structural equation model of the research variables had a suitable and acceptable fit and the general structure of the research was approved. Hence, the components used in the research were able to estimate food security. Accordingly, by improving the level of social capital and social health, promotion of food security in communities, would be expected.

A Long-term Interpretation of the Effect of COVID-19 on Food Security: A Lesson for the Future Pandemic Diseases

Background: The global spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) could trigger a food security crisis affecting not only impoverished individuals but also urban residents in low- and middle-income countries. Objectives: Given that various strains of COVID-19 impact food security differently, we assessed the food security status of households in Semnan province, Iran, during and after the containment of the omicron variant. Methods: Data from 231 households were gathered using a standard questionnaire that evaluated socioeconomic characteristics, food security based on the U.S. Household Food Security Survey Module, and vulnerability to food insecurity. A quantitative model was utilized to identify factors associated with food insecurity during and post-pandemic. Results: The findings indicated an improvement in household food security following the management of COVID-19, with significant differences observed in food security levels, especially concerning severe food insecurity, during versus after the COVID-19 period. The quantitative model analysis revealed that, with the exception of the head of household's occupation status, personal savings, and the number of educated and employed members within a household, all variables significantly correlated with food security (P < 0.05). Conclusions: These outcomes highlight how the relationship between socioeconomic factors and food security levels may vary depending on the pandemic's timing, environmental conditions, and household resilience, underlining the importance of adaptive policymaking that responds to current circumstances and the evolving links between socioeconomic determinants and food security.

Unlocking gender dynamics in food and nutrition security in Ghana: assessing dietary diversity, food security, and crop diversification among cocoa household heads in the Juaboso-Bia cocoa landscape.

Malnutrition is a worldwide problem that impacts every country, affecting one in three individuals, including Ghana. According to estimates from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), 690million people were undernourished globally in 2019. Malnutrition is no exception in rural cocoa communities in Ghana. The expansion of cocoa is causing food insecurity and low dietary diversity in most cocoa-growing areas. There is little information on the food security status and dietary diversity among male-headed and female-headed cocoa households in the Juaboso-Bia cocoa landscape. Thus, this study sought to explore the dietary diversity distribution, food security status, sources of staple food, food unavailability periods, food production status, themes contributing to low dietary diversity and food insecurity, and perception of the impact of cocoa expansion on crop diversification among male-headed and female-headed cocoa households in the study area. Both quantitative and qualitative research methods were employed to address the research questions. The study collected 200 semi-structured questionnaire data and 14 in-depth interview data from cocoa household heads in the Juaboso-Bia landscape. The survey data was cleaned and analysis, such as household dietary diversity status, food security status, and binary logistic regression were performed in the Statistical Package for Social Scientists (SPSS). The in-depth interviews were analyzed using thematic analysis. Through this study, it was revealed that 62.8% of the male-headed cocoa households had medium to high dietary diversity compared to their female counterparts 39.3%. About 47.9% of the male-headed households were food secure than the female-headed households (29.1%). Moreover, the months that both male and female-headed households recalled facing severe food unavailability were July and June. In addition, climate change/variability, unavailable lands, poverty, large household size, and gender stereotypes were themes promoting low dietary diversity and food insecurity among male and female-headed households. Furthermore, sex, total household income, and cropland conversion to cocoa were the variables influencing household heads' perception of the impact of cocoa expansion on crop diversification. The study showed that the male-headed cocoa households had high dietary diversity and were food secure than the female-headed cocoa households, lending credence to the conceptual framework applied in this study. There is a significant relationship between household head gender and food security status. Therefore, this study recommends the following interventions to improve dietary diversity and food security among male and female-headed cocoa households: raise awareness about the need for diverse diets and provide practical information on how to incorporate a greater variety of food groups into their daily meals; and promote gender equity and inclusivity in food security interventions. Future research could investigate how gender mainstreaming policies in agriculture have helped empower and improve the food security of female-headed households in Ghana.

Household food security status and its associated factors among pensioners in Arba Minch town, South Ethiopia.

Food insecurity has remained a serious public health problem in developing countries, such as Ethiopia, over the past two decades. Vulnerable populations, such as pensioners, have been affected by this problem because of emerging socio-demographic changes, a global financial crisis, and climate change, all of which have contributed to the high food prices. Hence, this study aimed to assess household food security status and associated factors among pensioners in Arba Minch town, South Ethiopia. A community-based cross-sectional study design was conducted from September to October 2023. Two hundred forty-four pensioners were chosen using a simple random sampling technique. Data were collected, cleaned, and entered into EPI-Data version 4.6 and exported to SPSS version 25 for analysis. Variables with a p-value of ≤0.25 in the bivariate analyses were candidates for the multivariable regression analysis. In the multivariable logistic regression, variables with a p-value of 0.05 were considered to have a significant association with the dependent variable. A total of 238 retired people were interviewed, with a response rate of 97.5%. Among the interviewed pensioners, 223 (91.4%) households were food insecure. Having more than one dependent member [AOR = 2.4, 95% C.I: 1.30, 6.64], being jobless after retirement [AOR = 3, 95% C.I:1.17, 5.61], and being in the lowest tertile of wealth status [AOR = 2, 95% C.I:1.36, 4.99] were identified as predictors of food insecurity. The magnitude of household food insecurity was higher compared to the national average, and factors such as the current occupational status of the household head, dependency ratio, and wealth status of the household were significantly associated with household food insecurity. Therefore, policymakers and programmers should provide new strategies focusing on additional income-generating activities and salary increments and consider free services such as school fees and healthcare.

Household food insecurity and associations with energy, nutrient intake, and sociodemographic characteristics in young New Zealand children

Although food insecurity affects a significant proportion of young children in New Zealand (NZ)(1), evidence of its association with dietary intake and sociodemographic characteristics in this population is lacking. This study aims to assess the household food security status of young NZ children and its association with energy and nutrient intake and sociodemographic factors. This study included 289 caregiver and child (1-3 years old) dyads from the same household in either Auckland, Wellington, or Dunedin, NZ. Household food security status was determined using a validated and NZ-specific eight-item questionnaire(2). Usual dietary intake was determined from two 24-hour food recalls, using the multiple source method(3). The prevalence of inadequate nutrient intake was assessed using the Estimated Average Requirement (EAR) cut-point method and full probability approach. Sociodemographic factors (i.e., socioeconomic status, ethnicity, caregiver education, employment status, household size and structure) were collected from questionnaires. Linear regression models were used to estimate associations with statistical significance set at p <0.05. Over 30% of participants had experienced food insecurity in the past 12 months. Of all eight indicator statements, “the variety of foods we are able to eat is limited by a lack of money,” had the highest proportion of participants responding “often” or “sometimes” (35.8%). Moderately food insecure children exhibited higher fat and saturated fat intakes, consuming 3.0 (0.2, 5.8) g/day more fat, and 2.0 (0.6, 3.5) g/day more saturated fat compared to food secure children (p<0.05). Severely food insecure children had lower g/kg/day protein intake compared to food secure children (p<0.05). In comparison to food secure children, moderately and severely food insecure children had lower fibre intake, consuming 1.6 (2.8, 0.3) g/day and 2.6 (4.0, 1.2) g/day less fibre, respectively. Severely food insecure children had the highest prevalence of inadequate calcium (7.0%) and vitamin C (9.3%) intakes, compared with food secure children [prevalence of inadequate intakes: calcium (2.3%) and vitamin C (2.8%)]. Household food insecurity was more common in those of Māori or Pacific ethnicity; living in areas of high deprivation; having a caregiver who was younger, not in paid employment, or had low educational attainment; living with ≥2 other children in the household; and living in a sole-parent household. Food insecure young NZ children consume a diet that exhibits lower nutritional quality in certain measures compared to their food-secure counterparts. Food insecurity was associated with various sociodemographic factors that are closely linked with poverty or low income. As such, there is an urgent need for poverty mitigation initiatives to safeguard vulnerable young children from the adverse consequences of food insecurity.

Adoption Analysis of BADC Produced <i>Boro</i> Rice Seed and Its Impact on Farm Household Food Security in Bangladesh

The purpose of this study is to look into the factors that influence adoption of BADC produce <i>Boro</i> rice seed and its impact on farm household food security in Bangladesh. The endogenous switching regression model (ESRM) and the propensity score matching (PSM) method were employed to identify the factors that influence adoption of BADC <i>Boro</i> rice seed and assessed its adoption impact on farm household food security. The analysis revealed that age, farm size, rice area, farm income, extension service, livestock ownership and government assistance had significant influence on adoption of BADC <i>Boro</i> rice seed. The estimated results show that education, farm size, earning members, farm income had positive and significant influence in attaining food security status of both adopters and non-adopters farm household. The estimated coefficient of correlation between the adoption equation and the food security equation of adopters was positive and significant. The study confirms that BADC produce <i>Boro</i> rice seed adoption had positive and significant impact on farm household food security of Bangladesh. The study recommended that BADC should implement appropriate policies to increase <i>Boro</i> rice seed production and enhance its adoption level through extension service so that food security situation improve in Bangladesh.

An Economic Analysis of Cropping Pattern, Marketing Chains and Food Security Status of Farm Households in Rural-Urban Interface of Bengaluru, India

The study was taken in rural-urban interface of Bangalore to examine the participation of households in different marketing chains and production diversification on food insecurity status among selected households. Herfindahl-Hirschman (HH) index was used to estimate the crop diversification in both north and south transect. To analyze the household food security status, Food Security Index (FSI) was employed. The results indicated that, south transect was more crop diversified than north transect and the food security status was also high in south transect compared to north transect, hence crop diversity is having positive influence on household food security status in the study area. Among the different crops cultivated in the study area, percentage of area under ragi was the highest followed by maize in both the transects. In case of both maize and ragi, majority of the farm households sold their produce in the regulated markets. But ragi producers realized higher price (Rs. 2350/q) in farmers market (producer to consumers) and maize producers realized higher price (Rs. 1550/q) in regulated markets. Food security can be enhance through crop diversification and better price realization can be achieved by encouraging to adopt direct marketing or selling farmers produce through regulated markets.

The sDOR.2-6y™ Is a Valid Measure of Nutrition Risk Independent of BMI-for-Age z-Score and Household Food Security Status in Preschool Aged-Children.

Parents' feeding practices are a function of child eating behaviors, health, and other factors. Adherence to the Satter Division of Responsibility in Feeding (sDOR) model has not been examined relating to child BMI, household food security, or child eating behavior. This study evaluates the adherence to sDOR in relation to child eating behavior, nutrition risk, BMI-for-age, dietary intake, and food security. Ninety-one parent-child (3 to <6 years) dyads completed a cross-sectional asymmetric survey in August-November 2019; n = 69 parents from the original sample completed additional and retrospective questions in June 2021. Main outcomes included sDOR adherence (sDOR.2-6y™), a Child Eating Behavior Questionnaire (CEBQ), nutrition risk (NutriSTEP®), the USDA 6-item screener, the Block Kids Food Screener, and eating competence (ecSI 2.0™). The children's weight and height were investigator-measured. Associations were tested with Pearson's r and Chi Square for continuous and categorical variables, independent sample t-test, one-way ANOVA, or Mann-Whitney U compared means. The dietary comparisons used Spearman's rho correlation coefficient. sDOR adherence was associated with a lower nutrition risk (r = 0.26, p = 0.03) and showed convergent validation with child eating behavior for three child eating behavior (CEBQ) constructs. sDOR.2-6y™ was not related to the child BMI-for-age z-score (r = 0.11, p = 0.39, n = 69). NutriSTEP® was associated with dietary quality and higher ecSI 2.0TM (r = 0.32, p = 0.008, n = 69). No associations between sDOR.2-6y™ and food security or dietary intake were noted.

Enhancing dietary diversity and food security through the adoption of climate-smart agricultural practices in Nigeria: a micro level evidence

AbstractThe paranoid belief that climate change will gradually reduce the ability of the world to meet the demand for food serves as the rationale for Nigerian smallholder farmers’ advocacy of climate-smart agriculture (CSA) techniques. The study investigates the effects of CSA practice on the food security status of rural farming households in Nigeria. A multi-stage sampling technique was employed in selecting 480 rural farming households across three selected states from Southwest, Nigeria. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Obtained results showed that 59.79% of the respondents were food insecure while severe and depth of food insecure among the farming households were 0.0711 and 0.1913 respectively. The result of the household dietary diversity score revealed the diverse consumption-ability of the respondents and the contributions of CSA practice in their farming system. This implies that households engaged in climate-smart farming are more likely to achieve higher levels of food consumption score, dietary diversity, and food security. The probit regression revealed that the food security status among rural farming households was significantly influenced by household heads’ gender, farm size, and contact with extension agents as well as adopted CSA practices such as crop diversification, agroforestry, and use of Fadama land for agricultural activities. This research concludes that CSA lowered the probability of food insecurity among rural farming households in Nigeria. Accordingly, the study suggests that the government and the key players should encourage the use of CSA practices in order to ensure agricultural sustainability and food security in agrarian communities by reducing the impact of climate change.

The Association of Socio-Economic Factors and Indigenous Crops on the Food Security Status of Farming Households in KwaZulu-Natal Province

Indigenous crops have been proposed as part of a solution for household food security and sustainable farming systems. However, they have been overlooked and underutilised by households and farmers despite their potential contribution to household food security. The objective of this paper was to determine the association of socio-economic factors and indigenous crops with the household food security of farming households. About 260 farming households were selected using a simple random sampling procedure. The food security status was measured through the use of the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS). The Chi-square test and extended ordered probit regression model assessed the relationship of socio-economic factors and indigenous crops with household food security status. The results from the HFIAS showed that farming households were largely in the mildly and moderately food-insecure categories, with 34.2% and 36.2% of the sampled farmers found in these categories, respectively. The Chi-square test showed a statistically significant relationship between food security status and socio-economic factors. Young men and everyone were perceived to be the ones likely to consume indigenous crops. Consumption of indigenous crops was perceived to be associated with food security. The results also showed that farming experience is likely to positively contribute to the food security status of the farming households. Selling indigenous crops in a formal market is perceived to be associated with food security compared to selling in an informal market. This study concludes that consuming indigenous crops is likely associated with improved food security. Identifying an appropriate market for sales of indigenous crops is imperative. Government, extension officers, and nutritionists must conduct training workshops to encourage households to grow, market and buy indigenous crops. Government and policymakers need to include indigenous crops in the national food and nutrition security policy and create formal markets for indigenous crops.

Whose Plate Is It? Awareness of MyPlate Among US Adults Over Time Since Implementation

BackgroundMyPlate is a tool designed to educate the general US population on how to eat in alignment with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans; yet, there is a lack of data on who has heard of MyPlate over time. ObjectiveThe objective of this analysis was to examine the prevalence of awareness of MyPlate within the US population and if awareness changes differentially over time. DesignThis study was a serial, cross-sectional survey. Participants/settingThree survey waves of data (2013-2018) were used from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey of adults aged 20 years or older (n = 17,023). Main outcome measuresPercentage of the US adult population who had heard of MyPlate was measured and stratified by sex, age, citizenship status, education, household food security status, income, receipt of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, and receipt of Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) benefits. Statistical analyses performedGlobal Wald tests were used to assess whether prevalence of awareness of MyPlate differed by sociodemographic characteristics. Tests of homogeneity using likelihood ratio tests of nested logistic regression models were used to assess whether differences in awareness of MyPlate by various sociodemographic characteristics changed over time from 2013 to 2018. ResultsTwenty percent (19.5%) (n = 875) of the analytic sample of participants aged 20 years and older had heard of MyPlate in 2013-2014, 24.5% (n = 1,020) in 2015-2016, and 24.6% (n = 1,086) in 2017-2018. Awareness of MyPlate changed differentially over time (P value < .1) from 2013 to 2018 by income, household food security status, and receipt of SNAP benefits, with slower increases in awareness for households with lowest income over time, narrowing of differences in awareness by household food security status over time, and persistent differences in awareness by receipt of SNAP benefits over time. ConclusionsThese results highlight the current low awareness of MyPlate, disparities in awareness of MyPlate immediately after implementation by sociodemographic characteristics, and increases in awareness over time at differential rates within levels of income, food security status, and ever receipt of SNAP benefits. Given that the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2025-2030 are currently in development, new strategies should be considered to disseminate tools that translate the updated Dietary Guidelines in such a way that reach the general population equitably upon implementation within the United States.

Household Food Security is Associated with Central Obesity but Not with Overweight and Obesity in Early Adolescence in the City of Colombo in Sri Lanka: A Cross Sectional Study

Background: The prevalence of overnutrition among early adolescents in the city of Colombo, the capital of Sri Lanka is rising steeply and the precise reason for the epidemic remains unclear. According to the insurance hypothesis, proximate driver of obesity could be food insecurity rather than food abundance per se. Aim: This study was conducted to investigate the association between household food security status and overweight, obesity and central obesity in early adolescence in the city of Colombo. Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted using 634 randomly selected adolescents aged 11-13 years in the city of Colombo, in which subjects were recruited using multistage stratified cluster sampling technique. Household food security score was assessed using USDA 18 Item Household Food Security/ Hunger Survey Module, while height, weight and waist circumference were measured. BMI-for-age Z score was calculated using WHO AnthroPlus software and waist: height ratio was calculated. Partial correlation between household food security score and BMI-for-age Z score and waist:height ratio were analyzed, after adjusting for daily energy intake, physical activity level, pubertal stage, birth weight and age. Results: Household food security score was not associated with BMI-for-age Z score (p&gt;0.05). Household food security score was inversely and weakly (r=-0.373) associated with waist:height ratio (p = 0.002) in girls but not in boys. Conclusion: Overweight and obesity are not associated with food security status, however food secure girls tend to have more fat distribution in the abdominal area.

Peri-urban food insecurity and coping strategies among farm households in the face of rapid urbanization in Sub-Saharan Africa: Evidence from Ethiopia

A growing body of literature discusses food insecurity in rural and urban contexts in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Peri-urban food insecurity and coping strategies remain an understudied topic. To fill this gap, household cross-sectional survey data was collected from randomly selected 300 farm households in the peri-urban area of Jimma City and complemented with key informant interviews (KIIs) and focus group discussions (FGDs) to assess their food insecurity status and coping strategies in the face of rapid urbanization. A structured questionnaire was used to collect quantitative data from farm households while an unstructured questionnaire was used to gather qualitative data from key informants. Twelve indicators involving the four food insecurity dimensions were identified to develop a food insecurity index and categorize households into four food insecurity levels. The Principal Component Analysis (PCA) is employed to determine the most important indicators of household food insecurity. The ordered probit regression model was employed to ascertain significant factors affecting farming household food insecurity. The results revealed that 46% of peri-urban farm households were food-insecure at various levels. The household food insecurity status varied with their level of human capital, physical endowments, risk aversion behaviour, and institutional barriers. The expansion of built-up areas and marketable crops, particularly eucalyptus trees have greatly affected the food security status of peri-urban farm households. Income diversification, farming diversification, social ties, and farming specialization were the main food insecurity coping strategies of peri-urban farm households. The findings of this study highlighted insights into the urban expansion of medium-sized cities and agricultural land loss, marginalization of staple food crops, and market food prices increase, which resulted in increased vulnerability to food insecurity and poverty among farm households in peri-urban areas. The recommendations drawn from these findings are formulating strategies that preserve agricultural land-use and promoting food insecurity mitigation programs that capitalize on the coping strategies of households in peri-urban areas in the face of rapid urbanization.

Food security status and cardiometabolic health among pregnant women in the United States.

Pregnant women and their offspring are particularly vulnerable to food insecurity and its adverse effects during critical periods of fetal development. Racially/ethnically minoritized women in the United States (US) who are pregnant are additionally burdened by food insecurity, which may exacerbate cardiovascular health (CVH) disparities. Despite heightened social vulnerability, few studies have employed an intersectional framework, including race and gender, to assess the food insecurity and CVH relationship. We used 2012-2018 and 2020 National Health Interview Survey data among US pregnant women aged 18-49 years old (N = 1,999) to assess the prevalence of food insecurity status by race/ethnicity and to investigate household food security status in relation to ideal CVH, using a modified ideal CVH (mICVH) metric. We categorized food security status as "very low/low", "marginal", or "high". To assess mICVH, a summary score of 7 clinical characteristics and health behaviors was dichotomized as yes [(7)] vs. no [<7]. Prevalence ratios (PRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of associations between food security status and mICVH were estimated using Poisson regression with robust variance. Models were adjusted for age, household income, educational attainment, geographic region, marital status, alcohol consumption, survey year, and race/ethnicity (in overall model). The mean age ± standard error was 29.0 ± 0.2 years. Among pregnant women, 12.7% reported "very low/low", 10.6% reported "marginal", and 76.7% reported "high" food security. "Very low/low" food security prevalence was higher among NH-Black (16.2%) and Hispanic/Latina (15.2%) pregnant women compared to NH-White (10.3%) and NH-Asian (3.2%) pregnant women. The mICVH prevalence was 11.6% overall and 14.5% for NH-White, 4.1% for NH-Black, 5.0% for Hispanic/Latina, and 26.7% for NH-Asian pregnant women. Among all pregnant women, "very low/low" and "marginal" vs. "high" food security status was associated with a lower prevalence of mICVH {[PRvery low/low = 0.26 (95% CI: 0.08-0.75)]; [PRmarginal = 0.47 (95% CI: 0.23 -0.96)]}. Household food insecurity was higher among pregnant women in minoritized racial/ethnic groups and was associated with lower mICVH prevalence. Given the higher burden of food insecurity among minoritized racial/ethnic groups, food security may be an important intervention target to help address disparities in poor CVH among pregnant women.

Rural Household Food Security Status: The Case of Jimma Rare District, Horo Guduru Wollega, Western Ethiopia

Rural Household Food Security Status: The Case of Jimma Rare District, Horo Guduru Wollega, Western Ethiopia

The impact of watershed on household food security: A comparative analysis

Watersheds provide a substantial contribution to household food security. The study investigates whether watershed development and management practices (WDMP) can help with food security challenges, and it compares the impact of WDMP on household food security status among practitioners and non-practitioners in the central highlands of Ethiopia and identified the determinants factors. The study employed a mixed research design with a cross-sectional approach. Household Dietary Diversity Score and Household Food Insecurity Access Scale were used to estimate households' food security status and An Ordered logit econometric model was applied to identify determinant factors. The study resulted in 44.65 % of non-practitioners and 18.30 % of practitioners had a low level of dietary diversity; whereas, 43.40 % of non-practitioners and 38.56 % of practitioners were severely food insecure. The household head's age, the number of laborers, income, livestock size, and agricultural land size highly determined the food security status of households. The HDDS and HFIAS findings reveal a statistically significant difference between WDM practitioners and non-practitioners. Therefore stakeholders must stress the promotion of WDMP to achieve food security.

Associations between food insecurity and diabetes risk factors in US adolescents in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2007-2016.

To evaluate the associations between household food insecurity and diabetes risk factors among lower-income US adolescents. Cross-sectional analysis. Household food security status was measured using the 18-item Food Security Survey Module. Simple and multivariable linear and logistic regressions were used to assess the association between food security status and fasting plasma glucose (FPG), oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), HbA1C and homoeostatic model assessment - insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). The analyses were adjusted for household and adolescent demographic and health characteristics. USA. 3412 US adolescents aged 12-19 years with household incomes ≤300 % of the federal poverty line from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey cycles 2007-2016. The weighted prevalence of marginal food security was 15·4 % and of food insecurity was 32·9 %. After multivariate adjustment, adolescents with food insecurity had a 0·04 % higher HbA1C (95 % CI 0·00, 0·09, P-value = 0·04) than adolescents with food security. There was also a significant overall trend between severity of food insecurity and higher HbA1C (Ptrend = 0·045). There were no significant mean differences in adolescents' FPG, OGTT or HOMA-IR by household food security. Food insecurity was associated with slightly higher HbA1c in a 10-year sample of lower-income US adolescents aged 12-19 years; however, other associations with diabetes risk factors were not significant. Overall, this suggests slight evidence for an association between food insecurity and diabetes risk in US adolescents. Further investigation is warranted to examine this association over time.