Risk Of Household Food Insecurity Research Articles

Household Food Insecurity in Ikot–Ekpene Local Government Area, Akwa-Ibom State, Nigeria: Prevalence and Association

ABSTRACT This study determined the prevalence and association of household food insecurity and its association with anemia among children in a Nigerian rural community. A descriptive cross-sectional community-based study design with 308 households in Akwa-Ibom state, Nigeria, was used. Household food insecurity access was assessed using HFIAS questionnaire. Haemoglobin was assessed using cyanmethemoglobin method. Bivariate logistic regression analysis was done to identify factors associated with household food insecurity. Having self-employed mothers (COR = 1.093; 95% CI = 0.301–3.962) and large household size (COR = 2.163; 95% CI = 1.229–3.809) were associated with increased risk of household food insecurity.

Goat health and management for improved smallholders’ livelihoods in central Malawi – A socioeconomic analysis of rural households

The true value of goats, their management systems, and the limitations of smallholdings have not been fully explored in the context of sustainable livelihoods among rural smallholders in central Malawi. However, goats are an essential part of rural livelihoods as transferable assets and sources of household nutrition, especially at times of food insecurity aligned to an ever more variable climate. To study the impact and limitations of goat ownership in Malawi’s Lilongwe district, surveys were performed across four villages covering 148 households from October-November 2019. Surveys were designed to identify linkages between household demographics, livelihoods, goat ownership, and management practices. Findings revealed goats are highly valued compared to other livestock. However, herds were small (median = 3) with only 62% reported kidding in the last year, while 50% reported deaths due to diseases, predation (such as by hyenas), and dog bites. Odds-ratio analyses identified farmers (as a primary occupation) were more likely to successfully breed goats to increase their herd size. Larger herds were associated with those who could accumulate wealth and utilise goats for ceremonies. However, diseases were a major contributor to losses and increased the risk of household food insecurity. Limiting disease impacts through anthelmintics and supplementation were correlated to an increased likelihood of sustainable offtake from smallholdings and improved livelihoods. With limited access to veterinary services, smallholders utilise a diversity of medicinal plants and ash to treat diarrhoea in their herd. The results highlight that goat security and health is fundamental to realising smallholding livelihood gains. Future efforts should aim to empower smallholders through providing tools to monitor goat health and to assess the effects of local practices, including the use of medicinal plants, for goat health.

Household food insecurity is prevalent in a cohort of postpartum women who registered in the Canada Prenatal Nutrition Program in Toronto.

To assess the prevalence, severity and socio-demographic predictors of household food insecurity among vulnerable women accessing the Canada Prenatal Nutrition Program (CPNP) and to examine associations between household food insecurity and breastfeeding practices to 6 months. Cohort investigation pooling data from two studies which administered the 18-item Household Food Security Survey Module at 6 months postpartum and collected prospective infant feeding data at 2 weeks and 2, 4 and 6 months. Household food insecurity was classified as none, marginal, moderate or severe. Logistic regression analyses were performed to assess predictors of household food insecurity and associations between household food security (any and severity) and continued and exclusive breastfeeding. Three Toronto sites of the CPNP, a federal initiative targeting socially and/or economically vulnerable women. 316 birth mothers registered prenatally in the CPNP from 2017 to 2020. Household food insecurity at 6 months postpartum was highly prevalent (44 %), including 11 % in the severe category. Risk of household food insecurity varied by CPNP site (P < 0·001) and was higher among multiparous participants (OR 2·08; 95 % CI 1·28, 3·39). There was no association between the prevalence or severity of food insecurity and continued or exclusive breastfeeding to 6 months postpartum in the adjusted analyses. Household food insecurity affected nearly half of this cohort of women accessing the CPNP. Further research is needed on household food insecurity across the national CPNP and other similar programmes, with consideration of the implications for programme design, service delivery and policy responses.

Impact of smoking cessation on household food security

Smokers can spend a substantial amount on cigarettes, potentially constraining their ability to purchase food. We tested the association of smoking cessation and household food security. Using the Current Population Survey (2001-2019), we longitudinally linked the Tobacco Use Supplement and the Food Security Supplement (n=71,278). Among adult smokers (n=13,144), we used modified Poisson regression to model household food insecurity as a function of quit status (continuing smokers vs. recent quitters), adjusting for sex, age, household size, children in the household, and other household smokers. We also used multinomial logistic regression to examine more detailed food security status (high, marginal, low, very low). The adjusted probability of household food insecurity at follow-up was 11% (95% CI: 8.7%-13%) for recent quitters and 20% (95% CI: 19%-21%) for continuing smokers. Continuing smokers had a lower adjusted probability of high food security (69% vs. 80%) and a higher adjusted probability of marginal (11% vs. 9.8%), low (12% vs. 7%), and very low food security (7.8% vs. 3.6%) compared to recent quitters. Cigarette cessation is associated with a lower risk of household food insecurity. Therefore, promoting tobacco cessation alongside food assistance and poverty reduction policies may help alleviate food insecurity.

Household living conditions and food insecurity in Nigeria: a longitudinal study during COVID-19 pandemic

ObjectiveThis study set out to investigate the risk of household food insecurity in Nigeria during the novel COVID-19 pandemic using a harmonised dataset of Nigeria’s prepandemic face-to-face survey and two...

Parent's food literacy and adolescents nutrition literacy influence household's food security and adolescent's malnutrition and anemia: Findings from a national representative cross sectional study.

Food and nutrition literacy are widely fundamental to improve the food security and reduce the double burden of malnutrition and iron deficiency in low- and middle-income countries. This study aimed (1) to assess the nutrition literacy (NL) of Lebanese adolescents and their parents' food literacy (FL), (2) to investigate the impacts of adolescents' NL and parental FL on (a) the household food security, (b) the adolescents' self-reported food security, and (c) the adolescents' nutrition status with a focus on malnutrition and anemia. A national representative sample of 450 parent-adolescent dyads [parents: mean age ± standard deviation (SD) = 46.0 ± 7.0, mothers: 59.0%; adolescents: mean age ± SD = 15.0 ± 3.0, girls: 54.6%] were interviewed. Anthropometric and blood hemoglobin measurements were performed for adolescents. The Arab Family Food Security Scale and the Adolescent-Level Food Security Scale were used. Around 45.0% of the adolescents were nutritionally illiterate, and nearly half (47.8%) of parents had poor FL. Around 68.2 and 54.0% of the households and adolescents were food insecure, respectively. Moreover, 6.7, 4.7, 32.2, and 16.7% of the adolescents were stunted, thin, overweight/obese, and anemic, respectively. Poor parental FL increased the risk of household food insecurity (FI) by 2.7 times, p < 0.001. Adolescents' nutrition illiteracy increased their FI risk by 60.0% (p = 0.02). The number of offspring, household income, crowding status, and participants' residence also influenced the percentage of FI and malnutrition prevalence among households and adolescents. Improvements in FL and NL are promising to mitigate FI malnutrition in Lebanon.

548-P: Food Insecurity during COVID-Is Associated with Worse Outcomes among People with Type 2 Diabetes

Background: Low food security is associated with increased barriers to diabetes management, and COVID-has exacerbated food insecurity in the United States. This study assessed correlation between food insecurity and health outcomes among people with type 2 diabetes (T2D) during the first year of the COVID-pandemic from March 2020 to March 2021. Methods: In March 2021, 3,235 adults with T2D completed an online questionnaire which included the validated 2-item Hunger Vital Sign screening tool to assess risk of household food insecurity in the last 12 months. Health and demographic information were collected. Results: Twenty percent of the sample were at risk of food insecurity within the last 12 months. Those at risk of food insecurity were more likely to report adverse physical health outcomes and poor mental well-being. Disparities in outcomes between those at risk and those not at risk were present across household income brackets. Among those at risk of food insecurity, 35% reported spending less on food to be able to pay for diabetes medications or supplies in the last 12 months, whereas only 4% of those not at risk reported the same. Conclusions: Food insecurity risk during the first year of COVID-is associated with a variety of adverse health outcomes for people with T2D. As the pandemic continues, further attention must be devoted to improving accessibility of nutritious food for people with diabetes. Disclosure J.Stevenson: Other Relationship; Abbott Diabetes, Ascensia Diabetes Care, Beta Bionics, Inc., Dexcom, Inc., Eli Lilly and Company, Insulet Corporation, LifeScan, Medtronic, Roche Diabetes Care, Tandem Diabetes Care, Inc. R.Gowen: Other Relationship; Abbott Diabetes, Ascensia Diabetes Care, Beta Bionics, Inc., Dexcom, Inc., Eli Lilly and Company, Insulet Corporation, LifeScan, Medtronic, Roche Diabetes Care, Tandem Diabetes Care, Inc., Virta Health Corp. E.Ye: Employee; dQ&amp;A. R.Wood: Other Relationship; Multiple companies and patient organizations (&amp;gt;10) .

Hydrodynamic Modelling of Floods and Estimating Socio-economic Impacts of Floods in Ugandan River Malaba Sub-catchment

River Malaba sub-catchment tends to experience dramatic flooding events, with several socio-economic impacts to the nearby communities, such as loss of lives and destructions of physical infrastructure. Analysis of spatiotemporal extents to which settlements, crops and physical infrastructures tend to be inundated are vital for predictive planning of risk-based adaptation measures. This paper presents a case study on flood risk assessment for Ugandan River Malaba sub-catchment. We applied the two-dimensional Hydraulic Engineering Center’s River Analysis System (2D HEC-RAS) for modelling of flooding extents. We considered extreme flow quantiles, lower and upper quantiles corresponding to the 95% confidence interval limits aimed at determining uncertainties in the flooding extents. Spatial extents of inundation on human settlement, land cover and infrastructure were analysed with respect to return periods of extreme flow quantiles. Finally, we estimated economic loss on infrastructure due to flooding. Results from the 2D HEC-RAS model were satisfactorily comparable with the results of observations. Amongst the land use types, cropland exhibited the highest vulnerability with at least 10,234.8 hectare (ha) susceptible to flooding event of 100-year return period (YRP). Inundated built-up land-use exhibited the highest vulnerability percentage increase (90%) between 2- and 100-YRP. In US Dollar, about US$ 33 million and US$ 39 million losses are estimated at 2- and 100-YRP, respectively, due to inundated rice gardens and these indicate a looming high risk of household food insecurity and poverty. Several infrastructure including 15 academic institutions, 12 health facilities, 32 worshiping places remain annually vulnerable to flooding. At least 6 km and 7 km of road network are also susceptible to flooding under extreme flows of return periods 2 and 100 years, respectively. Churches exhibited the highest economic losses of US$ 855,065 and US$ 1,623,832 at 2-YRP and 100-YRP, respectively. This study findings are relevant for planning the development of sustainable flood risk adaptation pathways given the established destructions within the sub-catchment due to flooding.

Pre-pandemic to early-pandemic changes in risk of household food insecurity among Maryland families with children.

The objective was to examine risk and protective factors associated with pre- to early-pandemic changes in risk of household food insecurity (FI). We re-enrolled families from two statewide studies (2017-2020) in an observational cohort (May-August 2020). Caregivers reported on risk of household FI, demographics, pandemic-related hardships, and participation in safety net programs (e.g. CARES stimulus payment, school meals). Maryland, United States. Economically, geographically, and racially/ethnically diverse families with preschool to adolescent-age children. Eligibility included reported receipt or expected receipt of the CARES stimulus payment or a pandemic-related economic hardship (n=496). Prevalence of risk of FI was unchanged (pre-pandemic: 22%, early-pandemic: 25%, p=0.27). Risk of early-pandemic FI was elevated for non-Hispanic Black (aRR=2.1 [95% CI 1.1, 4.0]) and Other families (aRR=2.6 [1.3, 5.4]) and families earning ≤300% federal poverty level. Among pre-pandemic food secure families, decreased income, job loss, and reduced hours were associated with increased early-pandemic FI risk (aRR=2.1 [1.2, 3.6] to 2.5 [1.5, 4.1]); CARES stimulus payment (aRR=0.5 [0.3, 0.9]) and continued school meal participation (aRR=0.2 [0.1, 0.9]) were associated with decreased risk. Among families at risk of FI pre-pandemic, safety net program participation was not associated with early-pandemic FI risk. The CARES stimulus payment and continued school meal participation protected pre-pandemic food secure families from early-pandemic FI risk but did not protect families who were at risk of FI pre-pandemic. Mitigating pre-pandemic FI risk and providing stimulus payments and school meals may support children's health and reduce disparities in response to pandemics.

Household food insecurity and associated socio-economic factors among recent Syrian refugees in two Canadian cities

In Canada, the prevalence of food insecurity is high among low-income households, particularly recent refugees. We evaluated the prevalence of food security among recent Syrian refugees and the associated factors in two Canadian cities, Toronto and Saskatoon. We collected data using the Household Food ‎Security Model, sociodemographic and socioeconomic questionnaires from 151 families. 84% of the Syrian households were food insecure, with no significant difference in prevalence between Saskatoon and Toronto. The risk of food insecurity was four ‎times higher for households with the annual income below $40,000. Households with educated woman (high school or higher) had four times higher risk of household food insecurity compared to families with less-educated women. ‎Our findings indicate the high prevalence of food insecurity among recently resettled Syrian refugees in Canada. Higher-income directly associated with food security. The inverse association between education and food security in households with highly educated women warrants further investigation.

Caregiver’s Self-Confidence in Food Resource Management Is Associated with Lower Risk of Household Food Insecurity among SNAP-Ed-Eligible Head Start Families

Food resource management (FRM) behaviors are key components within nutrition education programs designed to help food insecure households maximize their food dollars. However, little is known about the association between FRM self-confidence and financial practices with household food insecurity (HFI) among families with young children. Using a sample of SNAP-Ed-eligible Head Start families, this study examined associations between FRM self-confidence, FRM behaviors and financial practices by HFI. A needs assessment survey was conducted with caregivers of Head Start children (n = 365). HFI was measured using the US Household Food Security Survey Module. Chi-square and logistic regression analyses were conducted to examine if FRM self-confidence, FRM behaviors, and financial practices differed by HFI. Participants with high FRM self-confidence had lower odds of HFI (OR = 0.54, 95%CI: 0.33, 0.87), yet FRM behaviors, financial practices, and HFI were not related after adjusting for covariates. All FRM self-confidence questions significantly differed by HFI, whereas only one of six FRM behaviors and two of three financial practices differed by HFI (all p-values < 0.05). Promoting caregivers’ self-confidence in FRM skills within nutrition education programs may be explored as a potential strategy to assist low-income households to stretch their food dollars in an attempt to address HFI.

Self-Confidence in Food Resource Management Is Associated with Lower Risk of Household Food Insecurity Among SNAP-Ed Eligible Head Start Families

Abstract Objectives To examine the associations between food resource management (FRM) self-confidence and behaviors that help maximize the use of food dollars by household food insecurity (HFI) status. Methods Cross-sectional survey on SNAP-Ed eligible Head Start families in Pennsylvania, US (n = 366). HFI status was assessed using the 18-item USDA Household Food Security Module. FRM self-confidence was measured using 5-questions (e.g., “How confident are you that you can buy healthy foods for your family on a budget?”) and FRM behaviors were assessed using 6-questions (e.g., “How often do you plan meals before shopping for groceries?”). The associations between FRM self-confidence and behavior by HFI status were explored using chi-square and simple logistic regression analyses. Results The average FRM self-confidence score of respondents was 3.02(SD: 0.71) and FRM behavior score was 3.7(SD: 0.8). Participants with high FRM self-confidence had lower odds of HFI (OR = 0.36, 95% CI: 0.23, 0.56, P &amp;lt; 0.001), yet the association between FRM behaviors with HFI status was not found to be statistically significant (P = 0.91). When individual FRM questions were explored, results showed that all FRM self-confidence questions significantly differed by HFI status (highest p-value &amp;lt; 0.046); e.g., a higher proportion of food secure households were moderately confident or very confident to buy healthy foods on a budget compared to food insecure households (75% vs 58%, P &amp;lt; 0.001). For individual FRM behaviors, one of the 6 behaviors differed by HFI status; food insecure households were more likely to report never or rarely using a shopping list when grocery shopping vs their food secure counterparts (12% vs 9%, P = 0.016). Conclusions Higher confidence in FRM skills may protect against food insecurity among SNAP-Ed eligible households. Nutrition education programs designed to assist low-income households in stretching their food dollars need to target self-confidence in FRM skills, and address what factors may affect their FRM behaviors, in an attempt to alleviate food insecurity. Funding Sources This material was funded by USDA's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) through the PA Department of Human Services (DHS). This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

Household Debt and Children’s Risk of Food Insecurity

AbstractIn the United States, almost one in six households with children cannot access adequate food for a healthy and active lifestyle. Although food insecurity disproportionately affects lower-income households, it remains unclear why some lower-income families are more vulnerable to food insecurity than others. Household unsecured debt, such as debt incurred from credit cards and medical bills, may be an unexplored financial constraint associated with food insecurity. Using data from the 2014 Child Development Supplement (CDS) of the Panel Study of Income Dynamics (PSID), I assess whether unsecured debt, by amount and type of debt, is associated with food insecurity among lower-income households with children (N=1,319). Results indicate that medical debt increases odds of household food insecurity even after accounting for key sociodemographic and economic risk factors, while no relationship exists between other forms of unsecured debt and food insecurity. Moreover, although liquid assets decrease the risk of household food insecurity and attenuate the harmful effects associated with unpaid medical bills, few households have enough liquid assets to mitigate the risks associated with medical debt. Efforts to prevent medical debt may be essential for eliminating food insecurity among lower-income households with children.

Identifying populations and areas at greatest risk of household food insecurity in England

Despite the increasing recognition of household food insecurity as a policy issue, there is currently no routine measurement of food insecurity in the UK. There is nothing to suggest that Government will address this in the near future for all parts of the UK. In which case, policy makers and campaigners might instead seek out consistent and robust measures of the population-level factors which are known to contribute to food insecurity. However, no systematic measures exist, meaning that resources may not be targeted at those areas most in need. This paper presents the first objective estimate of high population-level risk of household food insecurity in English neighbourhoods (4.09% of the population, 95%CI 4.08–4.10) using public data. Estimated geographic distribution of factors contributing to household food insecurity is customisable to local pressures and is adaptable to settings outside of England.

Exploratory Factor Analysis on Six Food Insecurity Questions: Data from Malaysian Adult Nutrition Survey 2014

Introduction: Household food insecurity is defined as the inability to provide enough food for a healthy and active lifestyle for all household members. This study aimed to reveal the risk of household food insecurity in Malaysia based on data from Malaysian Adults Nutrition Survey (MANS) 2014. Method: Six questions adapted from the ‘Household Food Security Survey Module’ have been asked to 3000 respondents in MANS 2014. An Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) has been used to identify the main underlying structure or dimension. Result: All of six questions establishing one underlying structure which explained 71.7% of the variance. This single structure was named ‘risk of household food insecurity’. By summing score, regression approach suggested the score 21 and above indicated no risk for household food insecurity whilst the score 20 contrarily. According to this cut-off, 24.8% of Malaysian household was at risk for household food insecurity and 75.2% was secured. The risk found to be significantly different by location, strata, race and income. Conclusion: Quarter of the Malaysian household was at the risk of household food insecurity. Immediate action by multi-sectoral agencies urgently needed to prevent the effect of household food insecurity and also reduce the prevalence in the next survey.

Informal assistance to urban families and the risk of household food insecurity

RationaleFood insecurity is a persistent social problem affecting one out of eight households in the United States. While evidence shows that public assistance programs (formal assistance) are effective in reducing food insecurity, there is more limited evidence documenting how informal support, through social capital, affects food insecurity. ObjectiveTo examine the role of informal support (through instrumental social support, social cohesion, social control, and social participation) on food insecurity transitions using longitudinal data of a sample of disadvantaged urban mothers from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study. In addition, the study examines whether these associations vary by participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) using interaction terms. MethodThe sample includes 2481 mothers of children between ages three and five. The analysis uses unadjusted and adjusted logistic regressions. Interaction terms are included to examine formal and informal support. In addition, the analysis uses structural equation modeling to examine direct and indirect associations of the informal support variables on food insecurity. ResultsSocial support and social cohesion reduce the risk of food insecurity, reduce the risk of remaining food insecure, and reduce the risk of becoming food insecure. Social control has an indirect effect on food insecurity, which is mainly through social cohesion. Social participation also has an indirect effect through social support and social cohesion. SNAP participation for mothers with little to no informal support did not reduce the risk of food insecurity. ConclusionInstead of focusing on improving the food access of households, interventions should be expanded to the neighborhood level. Building social capital for low-income residents would increase the cohesiveness of their neighborhoods and their access to social support, which would increase the availability of resources to prevent or overcome food insecurity and other hardships.

Parental History of Disruptive Life Events and Household Food Insecurity

ObjectiveTo investigate whether a history of disruptive life events (ie, school suspension or expulsion, job termination, hospitalization for mental health, and/or criminal justice involvement) among parents is positively associated with household food insecurity. DesignStructured interviews and self-report surveys. SettingHouseholds across all 50 states in the US. ParticipantsSubsample of 6,270 households that participated in the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study–Birth Cohort with valid maternal and paternal data. Main Outcome MeasuresFood insecurity was measured when children were aged 9 months (wave 1), 2 years (wave 2), and 4 years (wave 3). Parental history of disruptive life events was measured at wave 1. AnalysisLogistic regression was used to carry out the analyses. ResultsEach examined disruptive life event was associated with a significant increase in the odds of persistent household food insecurity (P < .05). The probability of persistent household food insecurity was >6 times as large in households with 1 or both parents reporting the occurrence of each of the disruptive life events, relative to households with none of these parental risk factors. Conclusions and ImplicationsPractitioners may want to consider parental history of various disruptive life events in their assessment of familial risk of household food insecurity. Future policy efforts might include a cost–benefit estimate analysis of intervening earlier in the food insecurity–disruptive life events nexus to advocate for savings to the taxpayer for prevention services. Moreover, future research could evaluate these practice and policy-driven efforts using quasi-experimental designs.

Lunch at the library: examination of a community-based approach to addressing summer food insecurity.

To examine a library-based approach to addressing food insecurity through a child and adult summer meal programme. The study examines: (i) risk of household food insecurity among participants; (ii) perspectives on the library meal programme; and (iii) barriers to utilizing other community food resources. Quantitative surveys with adult participants and qualitative semi-structured interviews with a sub-sample of adult participants. Ten libraries using public and private funding to serve meals to children and adults for six to eight weeks in low-income Silicon Valley communities (California, USA) during summer 2015. Adult survey participants (≥18 years) were recruited to obtain maximum capture, while a sub-sample of interview participants was recruited through maximum variation purposeful sampling. Survey participants (n 161) were largely Latino (71 %) and Asian (23 %). Forty-one per cent of participants screened positive for risk of food insecurity in the past 12 months. A sub-sample of programme participants engaged in qualitative interviews (n 67). Interviewees reported appreciating the library's child enrichment programmes, resources, and open and welcoming atmosphere. Provision of adult meals was described as building community among library patrons, neighbours and staff. Participants emphasized lack of awareness, misinformation about programmes, structural barriers (i.e. transportation), immigration fears and stigma as barriers to utilizing community food resources. Food insecurity remains high in our study population. Public libraries are ideal locations for community-based meal programmes due to their welcoming and stigma-free environment. Libraries are well positioned to link individuals to other social services given their reputation as trusted community organizations.

Country and Region of Origin Predict Risk of Food Insecurity among Hispanic‐born in US

Reports on food insecurity often lump Hispanics together, ignoring potential geographical and cultural differences that may be important for identifying and targeting at‐risk populations. The objective of this analysis was to determine the influence of Hispanic country and region of origin on US household and child food security status.We analyzed data from the December 2013 supplement of the Current Population Survey. We tested logistic regression models of household and child food insecurity among persons born in a Hispanic country versus the US, the reference group. Models controlled for significant predictors of food insecurity: income, number of children &lt; 18y, education, marital status, and Hispanic ethnicity. We adjusted estimates with survey weights for persons.Persons originating from Mexico (p=0.00; OR=1.22) and Puerto Rico (p=0.02; OR=1.39) were at significantly higher risk of household food insecurity than US‐born. Mexico‐born persons (p=0.00; OR=1.28) were at significantly higher risk of child food insecurity than US‐born. Central American, South American, and Dominican‐born persons did not differ from US‐born. SNAP and WIC participation were associated with increased risk and attenuated differences between US‐born and Mexican‐born, and US‐born and Puerto Rican‐born persons.Findings suggest that country and region of origin for Hispanics, particularly Mexican‐born, may influence food insecurity risk and be an important factor for targeting interventions to reduce food insecurity among Hispanics. Promoting WIC and SNAP participation may be one effective approach.[Funding: Research Innovation and Development Grants in Economics (RIDGE) Doctoral Dissertation Research Grant]

Shelter Expenditures Increase Vulnerability to Household Food Insecurity

ObjectiveIncome is a strong predictor of food insecurity, but the income necessary for food security is a function of household expenditures. The objective of this study is to characterize the relationship between income, shelter expenditures and food insecurity in Canada.MethodsData from Canada's 2010 Survey of Household Spending were converted into budget shares (expenditure‐to‐income ratio) for food, utilities and housing (rent or mortgage). Logistic regression was used to assess the relationship between budget shares and food insecurity, defined as any affirmative response to the 10‐item adult food security scale. Among food insecure renters, linear regression was used to test the association between budget shares and severity of food insecurity, defined by a raw score of 1 to 10. All models were adjusted for sociodemographic factors.ResultsRenters were 3 times more likely to be food insecure than homeowners. Having a mortgage doubled the odds of food insecurity for homeowners. For every 1% increase in the proportion of income allocated to utilities, the odds of food insecurity increased by 5.2% for renters and 6.6% for homeowners. The odds of food insecurity also rose with the budget share for rent among renters and with the budget shares for mortgage and food among homeowners, but these effects were much weaker. Among food insecure renters, a 1% increase in the proportion of income allocated to utilities and rent increased the food insecurity raw score by 3.9 and 1.2 points, respectively; food budget share did not affect severity of food insecurity.ConclusionSmall increments in shelter expenditures, particularly utilities expenses, appear to contribute substantially to the risk of household food insecurity and to severity of food insecurity. Funded by Canadian Institutes of Health Research (115208).