Household Food Insecurity in Southeastern Iran: Severity and Related Factors

Food insecurity and its contributing determinants among rural households in the south-western region of Bangladesh, 2021: A cross-sectional study

Introduction

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted food access, resulting in substantial consequences for food insecurity and contributing to adverse individual and public health outcomes. To comprehensively evaluate these challenges and grasp their implications for food security, this study aimed to evaluate the contributing determinants of food insecurity among rural households in the southwestern region of Bangladesh.

Study design

A cross-sectional study was conducted using a validated questionnaire in selected 310 rural household respondents from the southwestern region of Bangladesh.

Methods

Household food insecurity status was the outcome variable for the analysis. Multinomial logistic regression analysis was used to explore and predict risk factors correlated with food insecurity among southwestern Bangladeshi households.

Results

We found that 59 % and 27.5 % of households were suffering from moderate food insecurity and severe food insecurity, respectively. The multinomial regression model revealed that respondents residing in Kusthia (RRR = 5.56 CI:2.67-8.4 and RRR = 6.65, CI:3.37-9.22) aged between 30 and 40 years (RRR = 2.32, 95 % CI:1.84-3.77 and RRR = 1.87, 95 % CI:1.48-3.97) and 40-50 years (RRR = 1.86 95 % CI:1.46-3.82 and RRR = 1.95, 95 % CI:1.75-3.26) were significantly associated with mild-to-moderate and severe food insecurity. Respondents with a monthly family income of <58.96 USD (3.38 times and 2.18 times), had ≥5 family members (2.68 times and 1.89 times), and had poor income during the pandemic (4.25 times and 2.75 times) more likely to be moderate and severe food insecure.

Conclusion

The results emphasized that during the COVID-19 lockdown in Bangladesh, rural households faced diverse levels of food insecurity, ranging from moderate to severe. It suggests that efforts to raise awareness and implement support strategies for those at higher risk should not only focus on income but also consider additional factors such as family size, adults aged 30-40 years, and occupation.

Prevalence of household food insecurity among a healthy Iranian population: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Food security is a fundamental human right that must be upheld to preserve excellent general welfare, and mental, physical, and social health. However, according to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) report in 2020, the level of food insecurity in the world is increasing.

OBJECTIVE

Determining the prevalence of food insecurity in Iran will be beneficial for Iran and other low-middle-income countries.

METHODS

We searched both English and Persian (Iranian) databases including PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, SID, Irandoc, Magiran, Civilica, and Iranian Medical Sciences Theses System from 01 January 1990 to 01 February 2022. Observational studies that reported the prevalence of household food insecurity among a healthy Iranian population and assessed food insecurity at the individual or household level using validated questionnaires were included.

RESULTS

One hundred six studies and/or theses with a total of 152, 300 participants met the review criteria. Our analyses demonstrated that the prevalence of food insecurity among the healthy Iranian population was 55.9% (95% CI: 52.6-59.2%) and the highest prevalence of food insecurity was in the western regions with 64.8% (95% CI: 57.7-72.0%). Subgroup analyses showed that food insecurity among women at 51.3% (95% CI: 45.1-57.6%) and rural inhabitants at 66.1% (95% CI: 58.8-73.4%) was significantly higher than men at 47.8% (95% CI: 41.8-53.8%) and urban residents at 47.1% (95% CI: 44.1-50.0%), respectively. Among the age groups, the highest prevalence of food insecurity was in adults at 56.5% (95% CI: 51.7-61.2%).

CONCLUSION

The prevalence of food insecurity in a healthy Iranian population was higher than the global average. Women, rural residents, and residents of the western regions of Iran had a higher prevalence of food insecurity. These groups should be prioritized in programs to reduce the prevalence of food insecurity in Iran.

SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION

www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO, identifier: CRD42022328473.

Is nutritional functional diversity in the rural food and nutrition system associated with food security and nutrient adequacy? A case study of rural areas of Zahedan district, Iran

BACKGROUND

An overlooked problem in food and nutrition system analysis is assuring adequate diversity for a healthy diet. Little is known about nutrient diversity in food and nutrition systems and how it transmits to dietary diversity. Nutritional functional diversity (NFD) is a metric that describes diversity in providing nutrients from farm to market and the consumption level. The objective of this study is to determine the NFD score at different stages of the rural food and nutrition system, including household's agricultural and home production, domestic food processing, purchased food, and diet. It also aims to explore the association between NFD and nutrient adequacy, food security, and anthropometric indicators.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted on 321 households in 6 villages of Zahedan district. The NFD score was measured at three subsystems (production, processing, and consumption) of the food and nutrition system. Household food security, mean adequacy ratio (MAR), and anthropometrics of the household's head were measured to assess the association between NFD and food and nutrition indicators. Linear and bivariate statistical techniques were applied to study the associations between variables.

RESULTS

In the rural food and nutrition system, the food purchased from the city plays the main role in the households NFD score. Their contribution to total NFD was twice that of the food items purchased from the village. The NFD score of homestead production and households food processing was found to be five times less than those of food purchased from cities. The food insecure households had significantly lower NFD scores for food purchased from the city and higher NFD scores for purchased food items from the rural market and native wild vegetable consumption. A strong and positive relationship was observed between NFD of food items purchased from the city and households'MAR. No significant association was found between the NFD score of homestead production, processing, and dependent variables, i.e. food insecurity, MAR, and household head anthropometrics.

CONCLUSION

NFD score, as a relatively new metric, could help in determining diversity from farm to diet and identifying the gaps to plan appropriate interventions for improving diversity in the local food system.

Magnitude of urban household food insecurity in East Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to determine the magnitude and determinants of urban household food insecurity in East Africa.

DESIGN

Systematic review and meta-analysis.

SETTING

Studies conducted in East Africa.

PARTICIPANTS

Seventeen studies (fifteen cross-sectional and two cohort) that enrolled 156 996 households. We used the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines to search electronic databases (PubMed, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, CINAHL, African Journals OnLine, Web of Science, Scopus and Google Scholar; date of last search: 10 June 2020) for studies reporting the prevalence and associated factors of urban household food insecurity.

RESULTS

A total of 17 studies with 156 996 households from 8 countries were used for the analysis. The pooled prevalence of urban household food insecurity in East Africa was 60·91 % (95 % CI 47·72, 74·11; I2 = 100 %; P < 0·001) where the highest (91 %) and lowest (36·5 %) was observed in Sudan and Burundi, respectively. Household head educational status (illiterate) (AOR = 2·53; 95 % CI 2·11, 2·95, I2 = 90 %; P < 0·01), female as household head (AOR = 1·45; 95 % CI 1·16, 1·75; I2 = 0·0 %; P = 0·993), large family size (AOR = 1·43; 95 % CI 1·09, 1·76, I2 = 0·0 %; P = 0·863) and poorest wealth quantile (AOR = 3·95; 95 % CI 1·93, 5·98; I2 = 57·2 %, P = 0·053) were factors which significantly increased odds of urban household food insecurity in East Africa.

CONCLUSIONS

The prevalence of urban household food insecurity in East Africa remains high. Therefore, policies and intervention programmes should be designed to reduce the high burden of food insecurity among urban households considering the identified factors.

Prevalence of food insecurity and related factors among slum households in Kerman, south of Iran

INTRODUCTION

Household food insecurity (FI) is defined as limited or uncertain access to nutritionally adequate and safe food or limited ability to obtain foods in socially acceptable ways has become a global issue in recent decades.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study was conducted in Kerman, southeast of Iran in 2019, covering 559 marginalised households. United States Department of Agriculture food security measure was used for data collection. Finally, data were analysed using t-test, χ ² , Mann-Whitney tests and logistic regression.

RESULTS

The prevalence of FI was 82% among slums households. The most important experience of FI in households was reliance on low-cost foods. There was a significant relationship between slums FI and gender of head of household, household size, household income, household education level and marital status (p ˂ 0.05). According to the results of the multivariate regression the variables of education, household income level and household size significantly determined FI (p ˂ 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The most important determinant of FI was low socioeconomic status (income, education, household size). Hence, public policies targeting socioeconomic factors should be made to improve the socioeconomic status of slum dwellers.

Nutritional Education and Its Effects on Household Food Insecurity in Southeastern Iran

Background:

Food insecurity can affect health directly or indirectly through its impact on nutritional status. We aimed at determining the effects of nutrition education intervention on household food insecurity in Zahedan, southeast Iran.

Methods:

The study was conducted using multi-stage sampling method. The first stage was a cross-sectional investigation whereby 2,160 households were studied in Zahedan in 2015. The prevalence of food insecurity was determined and food-insecure households were identified. Household food security status was assessed through the 18-item US Household Food Security Survey Module. In the second stage, based on the determined sample size of 150 households in each group, eligible households were randomly divided into the intervention and control groups. Before the educational intervention, questionnaires including demographic and socioeconomic information were completed for both groups. Then, data analysis was performed and the intervention was conducted on the intervention group. Six months post-intervention, a final assessment was made by interviewing the two groups to complete demographic, socioeconomic, and household food security questionnaires.

Results:

The prevalence of food insecurity in the 2,160 households was 58.8%. After the intervention, the number of food-insecure households diminished by 22% in the intervention group, and these households were assigned to the food secure category. After controlling the confounding variables, the educational intervention was significantly effective in reducing food insecurity score (P<0.001).

Conclusion:

The findings demonstrated the beneficial role of nutritional education and the skills of resource management in modifying nutritional behaviors and improving food security in the study population.

Factors associated with food security in households in the urban area of the state of Tocantins, Northern Brazil

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the factors associated with food insecurity in families living in the urban area of Tocantins/Brazil.

METHODS

This is a population-based cross-sectional study conducted in the urban area of 22 municipalities in the 8 microregions of the state. A semi-structured questionnaire was applied to the head of household to obtain socioeconomic and demographic data, and the Brazilian Food Insecurity Scale (EBIA) was used to assess food insecurity at home. The anthropometric assessment of the residents was made by measuring weight, height/length and waist circumference. Multinomial logistic regression was performed to assess the association of food insecurity with individual/household variables, and Pearson's chi-square test was used to compare whether there was a difference in the prevalence of food insecurity between microregions and between families with and without individuals under 18 years.

RESULTS

A total of 596 households were evaluated, of which 63.4% were in a food insecurity situation. The final model of the multivariate analysis showed that low head-of-household schooling, low per capita income, receiving social assistance benefits and lack of clean drinking water in the household were associated with food insecurity (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The findings of this study reveal the high prevalence of food insecurity in the families studied and their associated factors, showing the need for local actions and public policies to improve health conditions, education and income of the population, and consequently, improve the scenario of food and nutritional insecurity in the state.

Food Security and Hygiene Practice among Adolescent Girls in Maiduguri Metropolitan Council, Borno State, Nigeria

Inadequate food security contributes to poor health outcome for all, including adolescent girls. The study aims at determining the level of food security and hygiene among adolescent girls. A school-based cross-sectional study was carried out among adolescent girls aged 10 to 19 years old from six schools in Maiduguri Metropolitan Council, Borno State. The instrument for data collection was a questionnaire using KoBoCollect Toolbox between June and July 2019. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify the predictors of food security and hygiene among respondents. A majority of the respondents (73.5%) were in a very low food security level. Three factors were significantly associated with food security level, these included schools (p = 0.007), age of mother (p = 0.004), and occupation of mother (p < 0.001). School (p = 0.003), age (father p = 0.017; mother; p = 0.012), hygiene (p = 0.005), and occupation of mother (p = 0.002) were predictors of food security. About (46.6%) of respondents had poor hygiene practice, school (p = 0.016) was significantly associated with hygiene practice. School (p = 0.019; and p = 0.005) and food security (p = 0.009) were predictors of hygiene practice. This study reveals a high prevalence of low food security among adolescent girls.

Food Security and Its Association with Social Support in the Rural Households: A Cross-Sectional Study

Food insecurity is a major and multidimensional global problem, particularly in rural and vulnerable areas. In this cross-sectional study, we aimed to identify the relationship between social support and food insecurity in 404 Iranian rural households. We selected the sample by cluster random sampling and collected data using three questionnaires [demographic, Multidimensional Perceived Social Support Scale (MSPSS), and United States Department of Agriculture food security questionnaires] and analyzed data using chi-square tests and logistic regression (using SPSS version 19.0). Of the 404 Iranian households, 168 (41.6%) were classified as food secure. The logistic regression analysis revealed that education and job status of the household heads and household income were significantly associated with food security status. Additionally, perceived social support was protective against food insecurity after adjusting for confounding factors [compared with the first quartile, second quartile odds ratio (OR)=1.76, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.94∼3.3 and fourth quartile OR=2.21, 95% CI: 1.13∼4.33]. This study indicated that social support contributes to a reduced chance of food insecurity in rural households. These results suggest that policy makers should focus on strengthening social support in vulnerable communities to help protect against hunger and poverty.

Pre-pregnancy Body Mass Index and Maternal Nutrition in Relation to Infant Birth Size

This cross-sectional study examined the relationship between maternal pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) and dietary intake on birth size in the north-east part of Iran. Maternal information including BMI and dietary intake from 453 healthy pregnant women were collected in 2013–2014. Maternal pre-pregnancy BMI were obtained from health records and dietary intakes in third trimester were collected by using a validated food frequency questionnaire (FFQ), which consisted of 160 Iranian foods. Anthropometric measurements of neonates including weight, height, and head circumference were 3.19 ± 0.49 kg, 50.24 ± 2.1 cm, and 34.61 ± 1.5 cm, respectively. A significant difference was found in neonatal birth weight (p < 0.001) and head circumference (p = 0.002) between underweight and obese mothers. Furthermore, maternal intake of fat had a direct correlation with birth size. There was a positive relationship between vitamin A and potassium intake and birth height. The article concludes that normal maternal pre-pregnancy weight and appropriate diet are likely essential for healthy babies.