Predictors Of Hunger Research Articles

Hunger in Madagascar: A Case Study

This paper is a continuation of a larger study which assesses hunger in African countries. The purpose of these papers in this is to look at the scope of hunger in countries and then to identify the factors that predict hunger in each individual country. This is the 5th paper in the series and is concerned with hunger in Madagascar, one of Africa’s and the world’s hungriest countries. The paper is important for several reasons. One is the fact that it, like all the country level papers, is based on a national probability sample, something the literature stresses is lacking and needed to improve hunger research. A second is that all the papers in the series, including this one, found that the literature’s suggestion that gender and the rural-urban dimension are significant predictors of hunger. These studies have provided a consistent list of significant hunger predictors. Employment in the country’s agricultural sector, wealth as measured by asset ownership, education and age were consistent significant predictors, .The surprising findings were related to respondent perception of the role of government in addressing hunger, questions like the way the government was handling whether people had enough to eat or addressing the living standards of the poor. The major policy implication of this and earlier papers is that governments need to reach out to citizens, presenting them with their food related plans and assuring them that the government is doing everything within its power to address hunger in their countries.

Could Insulin and Hemoglobin A1c Levels be Predictors of Hunger- Related Malnutrition/Undernutrition Without Disease?

Malnutrition results in functional changes in the liver and pancreas that negatively affect carbohydrate metabolism. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether insulin hormone and glycated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) could serve as predictors of hunger-related malnutrition/undernutrition without disease in adults. The Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST) was used to assess malnutrition in this single-center, cross-sectional study. The malnourished group (n = 67) comprised patients with a MUST score of ≥ 2, and the control group (n = 31) included subjects with a MUST score of 0 - 1. Serum albumin, prealbumin, C-reactive protein (CRP), fasting glucose, fasting insulin, hemoglobin and HbA1c levels, body mass index (BMI), and homoeostatic model for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) scores were compared between the two groups. No significant difference was determined between the control and malnourished groups in respect of age or gender. HbA1c [5.5% (5 - 6.2) vs. 5.2% (3.9 - 6.7), p = 0.001], insulin levels [7.37 (2.36 - 52.16) vs. 3.91(1.17 - 30.08) µIU/mL, p < 0.001], and BMI [21.7 (14.1 - 34.0) vs. 17.8 (12.0 - 26.6) kg/m2, p < 0.001] were significantly lower in the malnourished group. Logistic regression analysis revealed that BMI was the only significant parameter (odds ratio [95% confidence interval] 0.680 [0.543 - 0.852]). Plasma insulin and HbA1c levels were significantly decreased in young adult malnourished patients without disease who had normal fasting glucose levels. These two parameters are known to be unaffected by inflammatory states, and therefore warrant further research on larger and different age sub-populations to assess if they might be early predictors of hunger-related malnutrition without disease.

Household food insecurity and hunger among households in Sidama district, southern Ethiopia

To examine household food insecurity and hunger in Sidama Zone, one of the most populous zones in southern Ethiopia. Cross-sectional survey administered individually by trained interviewers. Food insecurity was calculated with both the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS) and the Household Hunger Scale (HHS), developed by the Food and Nutrition Technical Assistance Project. Rural households from ten kebeles (the smallest administrative district) selected from two agro-climatic zones in Sidama, southern Ethiopia, from December 2010 to January 2011. Men and women respondents from 1094 rural households were selected using multistage sampling techniques. Using the HFIAS, 17·7 % of households were food secure. The percentage of households that were mildly, moderately and severely food insecure was 6·8 %, 27·7 % and 47·8 %, respectively. Using the HHS, 29·0 % and 5·6 % of households fell into the moderate and severe household hunger categories. Using multivariate statistical techniques, five variables were significant predictors of both food insecurity and hunger. These variables were migration of a household member, agro-climatic zone, and younger age, less education and lower radio access for the woman. Being eligible for safety-net credit programmes also was a predictor of hunger, while limited animal ownership and household wealth as well as alcohol use by the household head added to the prediction of food insecurity. The study documented that food insecurity is a major concern of smallholder farming households in the study area. A substantial majority of the households were facing mild to severe food insecurity and hunger for an extended period of time.

The Prevalence and Perceived Health Consequences of Hunger in Emergency Department Patient Populations

Hunger is associated with chronic poor health and may force patients to make choices that acutely impact their health. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of hunger, some of the choices it forces, and its perceived health effects among emergency department (ED) patients. A validated survey about hunger, choosing between food and medicine, and perceived adverse health outcomes was administered in English, Spanish, and Somali to non-critically ill ED patients or their parents. Demographics, rates of hunger, numbers of yearly ED visits, and decisions between buying commodities or medications were assessed. Relationships between variables were summarized with odds ratios (ORs), 95% confidence intervals, and logistic regression. Of 930 respondents, 23.7% screened positive for hunger and 17.6% bought food instead of medications. Among the hunger-positive respondents, 44% believed this choice caused illness, and of these, 69% sought ED assessment and 35% believed they were hospitalized because of this choice. Predictors of hunger were low income (OR = 3.3), illicit drug use (OR = 5.5), chronic illness (OR = 2.1), Hispanic ethnicity (OR = 1.9), and lack of insurance (OR = 1.8). Buying food instead of medicine was predicted by low income (OR = 2.5), chronic illness (OR = 2.4), and lack of insurance (OR = 3.4). Predictors of illness were chronic illness (OR = 1.8), lack of insurance (OR = 2.8), African American race (OR = 2.0), and "poor" health (OR = 1.9). These ED patients have high rates of hunger and often choose to buy food instead of medications. Many believe that this choice results in ED visits and hospitalizations. Socioeconomic factors may predict hunger and subsequent ill health.

Food Insecurity of Low-income Lone Mothers and Their Children in Atlantic Canada

To examine the occurrence and predictors of hunger and food insecurity over the past year and month among low-income mother-led households in Atlantic Canada.The Cornell-Radimer Questionnaire to Estimate the Prevalence of Hunger and Food Insecurity was administered weekly for a month, with modifications, to a community sample of 141 lone mothers who took part in a larger dietary intake study. Eligible women included those living alone with at least two children under the age of 14 years in the four Atlantic Provinces and having an annual income less than or equal to Statistics Canada's low-income cut-off.Food insecurity over the past year occurred in 96.5% of households. Child hunger was similar to maternal hunger over the one-month study period (23%), however, it was lower than maternal hunger over the past year. On multiple logistic regression analysis, maternal hunger over the past year was predicted by maternal age over 35 years (p < 0.0005), and Nova Scotia residence (p = 0.03). Child hunger over the past year was also predicted by maternal age over 35 years (p = 0.009). Families from New Brunswick experienced less food insecurity over the past month at both the household (p = 0.01) and maternal levels (p < 0.0005).Provincial policies that might contribute to the regular occurrence of food insecurity in these families should be investigated.