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Douglas F. What qualitative research can tell us about food and nutrition security in the UK and why we should pay attention to what it is telling us. Proc Nutr Soc 2023:1-10. [PMID: 37799071 DOI: 10.1017/s0029665123003713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/07/2023]
Abstract
Poor dietary patterns leading to poorer health and increased health care use have affected people living in disadvantaged economic circumstances in the UK for decades, which many fear will be exacerbated due to the UK's current so-called 'cost of living crisis'. The voices of experts by experience of those health and social inequalities are not routinely included in health improvement intervention development in relation to obesity prevention policy and programmes. Obesity is highly correlated with food insecurity experience in high-income country contexts (where food insecurity data are routinely collected) and is similarly socially patterned. Using a health equity lens, this review paper highlights qualitative research findings that have revealed the perspectives and direct experiences of people living with food insecurity, or those others supporting food-insecure households, that shed light on the role and influence of the socio-economic contextual factors food-insecure people live with day-to-day. Insights from qualitative research that have focused on the granular detail of day-to-day household resource management can help us understand not only how food insecurity differentially impacts individual household members, but also how behavioural responses/food coping strategies are playing into pathways that lead to avoidable ill health such as obesity, diabetes and other chronic health conditions, including mental health problems. This review paper concludes by discussing research and policy implications in relation to food-insecure households containing people with chronic health conditions, and for pregnant women and families with infants and very young children living in the UK today.
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Affiliation(s)
- Flora Douglas
- School of Nursing, Midwifery and Paramedic Practice, Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen, UK
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2
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Hill CM, Tseng AS, Holzhauer K, Littman AJ, Jones-Smith JC. Association between health care access and food insecurity among lower-income older adults with multiple chronic conditions in Washington State, USA. Public Health Nutr 2023; 26:199-207. [PMID: 35603699 PMCID: PMC11077446 DOI: 10.1017/s1368980022001240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2021] [Revised: 02/03/2022] [Accepted: 05/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Lower-income older adults with multiple chronic conditions (MCC) are highly vulnerable to food insecurity. However, few studies have considered how health care access is related to food insecurity among older adults with MCC. The aims of this study were to examine associations between MCC and food insecurity, and, among older adults with MCC, between health care access and food insecurity. DESIGN Cross-sectional study data from the 2019 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System survey. SETTING Washington State, USA. PARTICIPANTS Lower-income adults, aged 50 years or older (n 2118). MCC was defined as having ≥ 2 of 11 possible conditions. Health care access comprised three variables (unable to afford seeing the doctor, no health care coverage and not having a primary care provider (PCP)). Food insecurity was defined as buying food that did not last and not having money to get more. RESULTS The overall prevalence of food insecurity was 26·0 % and was 1·50 times greater (95 % CI 1·16, 1·95) among participants with MCC compared to those without MCC. Among those with MCC (n 1580), inability to afford seeing a doctor was associated with food insecurity (prevalence ratio (PR) 1·83; 95 % CI 1·46, 2·28), but not having health insurance (PR 1·49; 95 % CI 0·98, 2·24) and not having a PCP (PR 1·10; 95 % CI 0·77, 1·57) were not. CONCLUSIONS Inability to afford healthcare is related to food insecurity among older adults with MCC. Future work should focus on collecting longitudinal data that can clarify the temporal relationship between MCC and food insecurity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Courtney M Hill
- Department of Epidemiology, University of
Washington, Seattle, WA98195, USA
| | - Ashley S Tseng
- Department of Epidemiology, University of
Washington, Seattle, WA98195, USA
| | | | - Alyson J Littman
- Department of Epidemiology, University of
Washington, Seattle, WA98195, USA
- Seattle Epidemiologic Research and Information
Center, Department of Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System,
Seattle, WA, USA
- Seattle-Denver Center of Innovation for Veteran-Centered and
Value-Driven Care, Health Services Research and Development,
Department of Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle,
WA, USA
| | - Jessica C Jones-Smith
- Department of Epidemiology, University of
Washington, Seattle, WA98195, USA
- Department of Health Systems and Population Health,
University of Washington, Seattle,
WA, USA
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Dubelt-Moroz A, Warner M, Heal B, Khalesi S, Wegener J, Totosy de Zepetnek JO, Lee JJ, Polecrone T, El-Sarraj J, Holmgren E, Bellissimo N. Food Insecurity, Dietary Intakes, and Eating Behaviors in a Convenience Sample of Toronto Youth. CHILDREN (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 9:children9081119. [PMID: 36010010 PMCID: PMC9406940 DOI: 10.3390/children9081119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2022] [Revised: 07/21/2022] [Accepted: 07/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Food insecurity has been shown to be associated with poor dietary quality and eating behaviors, which can have both short- and long-term adverse health outcomes in children. The objective was to investigate the food security status, dietary intakes, and eating behaviors in a convenience sample of youth participating in the Maple Leaf Sports Entertainment LaunchPad programming in downtown Toronto, Ontario. METHODS Youth aged 9-18 years were recruited to participate in the study. Food security status, dietary intakes, and eating behaviors were collected using parent- or self-reported questionnaires online. RESULTS Sixty-six youth (mean ± SD: 11.7 ± 1.9 years) participated in the study. The prevalence of household food insecurity was higher than the national average with at least one child under 18 years of age (27.7% vs. 16.2%). Dietary intake patterns were similar to the national trends with low intakes of fiber, inadequate intakes of calcium and vitamin D; and excess intakes of sodium, added sugar, and saturated fat. Despite a low prevalence of poor eating habits, distracted eating was the most frequently reported poor eating habit. CONCLUSIONS Although youth were at high risk for experiencing household food insecurity, inadequate dietary intake patterns were similar to the national trends. Our findings can be used to develop future programming to facilitate healthy dietary behaviors appropriate for the target community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Dubelt-Moroz
- School of Nutrition, Faculty of Community Services, Toronto Metropolitan University, 350 Victoria Street, Toronto, ON M5B 2K3, Canada; (A.D.-M.); (J.W.); (T.P.)
| | - Marika Warner
- Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment LaunchPad, 259 Jarvis Street, Toronto, ON M5B 2C2, Canada; (M.W.); (B.H.)
| | - Bryan Heal
- Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment LaunchPad, 259 Jarvis Street, Toronto, ON M5B 2C2, Canada; (M.W.); (B.H.)
| | - Saman Khalesi
- Physical Activity Research Group, Appleton Institute and School of Health, Medical and Applied Sciences, Central Queensland University, 160 Ann Street, Brisbane, QLD 4000, Australia;
| | - Jessica Wegener
- School of Nutrition, Faculty of Community Services, Toronto Metropolitan University, 350 Victoria Street, Toronto, ON M5B 2K3, Canada; (A.D.-M.); (J.W.); (T.P.)
| | - Julia O. Totosy de Zepetnek
- Faculty of Kinesiology & Health Studies, University of Regina, 3737 Wascana Parkway, Regina, SK S4S 0A2, Canada;
| | - Jennifer J. Lee
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, 1 King’s College Circle, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada;
| | - Taylor Polecrone
- School of Nutrition, Faculty of Community Services, Toronto Metropolitan University, 350 Victoria Street, Toronto, ON M5B 2K3, Canada; (A.D.-M.); (J.W.); (T.P.)
| | - Jasmin El-Sarraj
- Campus Aarhus N, VIA University College, Banegårdsgade 2, 8700 Horsens, Denmark; (J.E.-S.); (E.H.)
| | - Emelie Holmgren
- Campus Aarhus N, VIA University College, Banegårdsgade 2, 8700 Horsens, Denmark; (J.E.-S.); (E.H.)
| | - Nick Bellissimo
- School of Nutrition, Faculty of Community Services, Toronto Metropolitan University, 350 Victoria Street, Toronto, ON M5B 2K3, Canada; (A.D.-M.); (J.W.); (T.P.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-416-979-5000 (ext. 553026)
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4
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Liese AD. Shining a light on marginal food insecurity in an understudied population. Public Health Nutr 2022; 25:1-2. [PMID: 35546059 PMCID: PMC9991656 DOI: 10.1017/s1368980022001094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2022] [Accepted: 04/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Angela D Liese
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC29208, USA
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Spring C, Garthwaite K, Fisher A. Containing Hunger, Contesting Injustice? Exploring the Transnational Growth of Foodbanking- and Counter-responses- Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic. FOOD ETHICS 2022; 7:6. [PMID: 35340530 PMCID: PMC8934159 DOI: 10.1007/s41055-022-00099-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
COVID-19 caused levels of household food insecurity to spike, but the precarity of so many people in wealthy countries is an outgrowth of decades of eroding public provisions and labour protections that once protected people from hunger, setting the stage for the virus' unevenly-distributed harms. The prominence of corporate-sponsored foodbanking as a containment response to pandemic-aggravated food insecurity follows decades of replacing rights with charity. We review structural drivers of charity's growth to prominence as a hunger solution in North America, and of its spread to countries including the UK. By highlighting pre-pandemic pressures shaping foodbanking, including charities' efforts to retool themselves as health providers, we ask whether anti-hunger efforts during the pandemic serve to contain ongoing socioeconomic crises and the unjust living conditions they cause, or contest them through transformative pathways to a just food system. We suggest that pandemic-driven philanthropic and state funding flows have bolstered foodbanking and the food system logics that support it. By contextualising the complex and variegated politics of foodbanking in broader movements, from community food security to food sovereignty, we reframe simplistic narratives of charity and highlight the need for justice-oriented structural changes in wealth redistribution and food system organisation if we are to prevent the kinds of emergency-within-emergency that we witnessed as COVID-19 revealed the proximity of many to hunger.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte Spring
- Laurier Centre for Sustainable Food Systems, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, Canada
| | - Kayleigh Garthwaite
- Department of Social Policy, Sociology and Criminology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
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Tuckett AG, Rowbotham S, Hetherington S, Goddard J, King AC. Using citizen science to empower older adults to improve a food security initiative in Australia. Health Promot Int 2021; 37:6308794. [PMID: 34165525 DOI: 10.1093/heapro/daab060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Food security is an increasing problem for older adults who are living longer and having to stretch their resources further. Initiatives such as subsidized community market days are increasingly important in bolstering food security amongst these groups but there have been few attempts to understand these initiatives from the perspective of community members. This exploratory study examined the utility of a novel citizen science approach to engage older adults in evaluating and improving a local food security initiative. Using the Our Voice methodology, citizen scientists recorded their perceptions of their local Market Day via photographs and audio narratives. Thirteen citizen scientists captured 127 photographs and 125 commentaries. Citizen scientists participated in workshops to discuss, code and synthesize their data, and used their findings to advocate for change. A number of improvements to the Market Day were made by key stakeholders on the basis of citizen scientist recommendations, including improving the processes for sourcing and storing food and changing the layout to improve access. This study demonstrates that citizen science is a useful and feasible approach to engaging community members in capturing data and advocating for change to ensure that local initiatives meet the needs of communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony G Tuckett
- Curtin School of Nursing, Curtin University, Bentley Campus, Perth 6102, Australia.,School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Brisbane 4067, Australia
| | - Samantha Rowbotham
- Menzies Centre for Health Policy, Sydney School of Public Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, Sydney 2050, Australia
| | - Sharon Hetherington
- Healthy Connections Exercise Clinic, Burnie Brae Ltd, Chermside, Brisbane 4032, Australia
| | - Jodie Goddard
- Community Support Office, Burnie Brae Ltd, Chermside, Brisbane 4032, Australia
| | - Abby C King
- Stanford Prevention Research Center, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
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Food insecurity partially mediates the association between drug use and depressive symptoms among men who have sex with men in Los Angeles, California. Public Health Nutr 2021; 24:3977-3985. [PMID: 34103117 DOI: 10.1017/s1368980021002494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To understand the relationship between drug use, food insecurity (FI) and mental health among men who have sex with men (MSM). DESIGN Cohort study (2014-2019) with at least one follow-up. SETTING Visits at 6-month intervals included self-assessment for FI and depressive symptoms. Urine testing results confirmed drug use. Factors associated with FI were assessed using multiple logistic regression with random effects for repeated measures. General structural equation modelling tested whether FI mediates the relationship between drug use and depressive symptoms. PARTICIPANTS Data were from HIV-positive and high-risk HIV-negative MSM in Los Angeles, CA (n 431; 1192 visits). RESULTS At baseline, FI was reported by 50·8 % of participants, depressive symptoms in 36·7 % and 52·7 % of urine screening tests were positive for drugs (i.e. marijuana, opioids, methamphetamine, cocaine and ecstasy). A positive drug test was associated with a 96 % increase in the odds of being food insecure (95 % CI 1·26, 3·07). Compared to those with high food security, individuals with very low food security have a nearly sevenfold increase in the odds of reporting depressive symptoms (95 % CI 3·71, 11·92). Findings showed 14·9 % of the association between drug use (exposure) and depressive symptoms (outcome) can be explained by FI (mediator). CONCLUSION The prevalence of FI among this cohort of HIV-positive and high-risk HIV-negative MSM was high; the association between drug use and depressive symptoms was partially mediated by FI. Findings suggest that enhancing access to food and nutrition may improve mood in the context of drug use, especially among MSM at risk for HIV transmission.
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Food insecurity, food skills, health literacy and food preparation activities among young Canadian adults: a cross-sectional analysis. Public Health Nutr 2021; 24:2377-2387. [PMID: 33648617 DOI: 10.1017/s1368980021000719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To assess associations between household food security status and indicators of food skills, health literacy and home meal preparation, among young Canadian adults. DESIGN Cross-sectional data were analysed using logistic regression and general linear models to assess associations between food security status and food skills, health literacy and the proportion of meals prepared at home, by gender. SETTING Participants recruited from five Canadian cities (Vancouver (BC), Edmonton (AB), Toronto (ON), Montreal (QB) and Halifax (NS)) completed an online survey. PARTICIPANTS 1389 men and 1340 women aged 16-30 years. RESULTS Self-reported food skills were not associated with food security status (P > 0·05) among men or women. Compared to those with high health literacy (based on interpretation of a nutrition label), higher odds of food insecurity were observed among men (adjusted OR (AOR): 2·58, 95 % CI 1·74, 3·82 and 1·56, 95 % CI 1·07, 2·28) and women (AOR: 2·34, 95 % CI 1·48, 3·70 and 1·92, 95 % CI 1·34, 2·74) with lower health literacy. Women in food-insecure households reported preparing a lower proportion of breakfasts (β = -0·051, 95 % CI -0·085, -0·017), lunches (β = -0·062, 95 % CI -0·098, -0·026) and total meals at home (β = -0·041, 95 % CI -0·065, -0·016). Men and women identifying as Black or Indigenous, reporting financial difficulty and with lower levels of education had heightened odds of experiencing food insecurity. CONCLUSIONS Findings are consistent with other studies underscoring the financial precarity, rather than lack of food skills, associated with food insecurity. This precarity may reduce opportunities to apply health literacy and undertake meal preparation.
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McLinden T, Stover S, Hogg RS. HIV and Food Insecurity: A Syndemic Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic. AIDS Behav 2020; 24:2766-2769. [PMID: 32385677 PMCID: PMC7206577 DOI: 10.1007/s10461-020-02904-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Taylor McLinden
- British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, Vancouver, Canada.
| | - Sofia Stover
- Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Robert S Hogg
- British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, Vancouver, Canada
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, Canada
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10
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Exploring the association between food insecurity and food skills among school-aged children. Public Health Nutr 2020; 23:2000-2005. [DOI: 10.1017/s1368980019004300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
AbstractObjective:To examine the relationship between household food insecurity (FI) and children’s involvement in family meal choices and food preparation, used as proxies for children’s food skills, and to explore gender differences within these associations.Design:Households were classified as food-secure or food-insecure using the six-item, short-form Household Food Security Survey Module. Children’s involvement in family meal choices and food preparation were treated as proxies for children’s food skills. Mixed-effects multinomial logistic regression models were used.Setting:Public schools in Nova Scotia, Canada.Participants:5244 children in the fifth grade (10–11 years old) participating in the Children’s Lifestyle and School Performance Study (CLASS).Results:Most children reported being involved in family meal choices or food preparation at least weekly (74 and 68 %). The likelihood of helping choose family meals once a week was 33 % lower among girls from food-insecure households compared to girls from food-secure households. No differences in boys’ involvement in family meal choices were observed according to household FI status. Boys from food-insecure households were 65 % more likely than boys from food-secure households to assist with food preparation/cooking four times per week. No differences in girls’ involvement in food preparation were observed according to household FI status.Conclusions:Findings support that household FI is not due to a lack of food skills but most likely due to inadequate access to resources. This supports the call for upstream policies targeting the structural issues underpinning household FI such as low income.
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Assessing the impact of food insecurity on HIV medication adherence in the context of an integrated care programme for people living with HIV in Vancouver, Canada. Public Health Nutr 2019; 23:683-690. [PMID: 31507259 DOI: 10.1017/s1368980019002532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Food insecurity, or self-reports of inadequate food access due to limited financial resources, remains prevalent among people living with HIV (PLHIV). We examined the impact of food insecurity on combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) adherence within an integrated care programme that provides services to PLHIV, including two meals per day. DESIGN Adjusted OR (aOR) were estimated by generalized estimating equations, quantifying the relationship between food insecurity (exposure) and cART adherence (outcome) with multivariable logistic regression. SETTING We drew on survey data collected between February 2014 and March 2016 from the Dr. Peter Centre Study based in Vancouver, Canada. PARTICIPANTS The study included 116 PLHIV at baseline, with ninety-nine participants completing a 12-month follow-up interview. The median (quartile 1-quartile 3) age was 46 (39-52) years at baseline and 87 % (n 101) were biologically male at birth. RESULTS At baseline, 74 % (n 86) of participants were food insecure (≥2 affirmative responses on Health Canada's Household Food Security Survey Module) and 67 % (n 78) were adherent to cART ≥95 % of the time. In the adjusted regression analysis, food insecurity was associated with suboptimal cART adherence (aOR = 0·47, 95 % CI 0·24, 0·93). CONCLUSIONS While food provision may reduce some health-related harms, there remains a relationship between this prevalent experience and suboptimal cART adherence in this integrated care programme. Future studies that elucidate strategies to mitigate food insecurity and its effects on cART adherence among PLHIV in this setting and in other similar environments are necessary.
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Combating Child Summer Food Insecurity: Examination of a Community-Based Mobile Meal Program. J Community Health 2019; 44:1009-1018. [PMID: 31073855 DOI: 10.1007/s10900-019-00675-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Low-income children's access to meals decreases during the summer months due to losing the benefit of the free and reduced-price lunches they normally receive during the school year. Few studies critically examine community-based approaches to providing summer meals. This mixed methods study examined a mobile meal program implemented in a community with large economic disparities. Parents and caregivers who attended the mobile meal program with a child at one of three sites completed surveys that screened for risk of food insecurity and examined access and utilization of community food resources. Interviews with a representative subsample of English- and Spanish-speaking participants elicited an in-depth understanding of food insecurity in the community and perspectives on the mobile meal program. Surveys (n = 284) were completed in English (78%) and Spanish (22%). Participants identified primarily as Asian (32%), Latino/Hispanic (29%), and White (27%), with 26% screening positive for risk of food insecurity within the past 12 months. Qualitative interviews (n = 36) revealed widespread support for meals served in public settings as they were perceived to be welcoming, fostered social interactions, and helped the community at large. Participants described the high cost of living as a key motivation for participating and cited immigration fears as a barrier to accessing public resources. Findings from this study suggest the importance of innovative community-based approaches to serving hard-to-reach children during the summer.
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Vold L, Lynch M, Martin W. A Review of Housing and Food Intersections: Implications for Nurses and Nursing Research. Can J Nurs Res 2019; 51:221-232. [PMID: 30803267 DOI: 10.1177/0844562119831891] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Study Background Quality, accessibility, and affordability of housing and food are public health and nursing concerns. Yet, intersections between housing and food security are relatively understudied. Purpose The purpose of this article is to examine the evidence describing the relationship between food security and housing interventions, and second, describing specific opportunities for targeted strategies for nursing practice and research. Methods Arksey and O’Malley’s scoping review method was followed to search housing and food security research. A database search identified 46 studies that were mapped onto a social ecological theory to understand the micro, meso, exo, and macro interventions. Results Three major recommendations were identified. Micro-system recommendations include primary care screening for low-income groups. Meso- and exo-system recommendations focus on creating partnerships in research and enhancing social housing. Lastly, macro-system recommendations focus on challenging housing affordability standards. The major gap in the literature is addressing healthy housing. Conclusion Broadening housing interventions to include comprehensive approaches to meeting individuals’ needs offers more than simply packaging two interventions together. There is a significant moment in nursing in which nurses are witness to a paradigmatic shift in the ways to approach housing and food security.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lindsey Vold
- College of Nursing, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada
| | - Meghan Lynch
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Wanda Martin
- College of Nursing, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada
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Abstract
Food poverty is multi-faceted. While it is certainly about having enough, nutritious food, it is also about the cultural acceptability of diet and the ability to participate in customary activities associated with food. Within the Irish Survey of Income and Living Conditions (SILC), there are deprivation indicators that make it possible to monitor many aspects of food poverty – nutritional adequacy, absolute deprivation, cultural acceptability and social inclusion. However, within the composite official food poverty indicator, only nutritional deficiency, absolute and cultural deprivation are included. Those households experiencing only social exclusion vis-a-vis food are classified as non-food poor households. This paper analyses this group of households using Irish Survey of Income and Living Conditions data for 2015. These households – households who are not officially classified as food poor, but who cannot afford to entertain family or friends with food and/or drink once a month – are much more likely than non-food poor households to be experiencing multiple deprivations, to be unable to afford many household amenities, and, if employed, to be employed in jobs often associated with the working poor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy Erbe Healy
- Mary Immaculate College, University of Limerick, Ireland
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15
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What can Secondary Data Tell Us about Household Food Insecurity in a High-Income Country Context? INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2018; 16:ijerph16010082. [PMID: 30597954 PMCID: PMC6338928 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph16010082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2018] [Revised: 12/20/2018] [Accepted: 12/27/2018] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
In the absence of routinely collected household food insecurity data, this study investigated what could be determined about the nature and prevalence of household food insecurity in Scotland from secondary data. Secondary analysis of the Living Costs and Food Survey (2007–2012) was conducted to calculate weekly food expenditure and its ratio to equivalised income for households below average income (HBAI) and above average income (non-HBAI). Diet Quality Index (DQI) scores were calculated for this survey and the Scottish Health Survey (SHeS, 2008 and 2012). Secondary data provided a partial picture of food insecurity prevalence in Scotland, and a limited picture of differences in diet quality. In 2012, HBAI spent significantly less in absolute terms per week on food and non-alcoholic drinks (£53.85) compared to non-HBAI (£86.73), but proportionately more of their income (29% and 15% respectively). Poorer households were less likely to achieve recommended fruit and vegetable intakes than were more affluent households. The mean DQI score (SHeS data) of HBAI fell between 2008 and 2012, and was significantly lower than the mean score for non-HBAI in 2012. Secondary data are insufficient to generate the robust and comprehensive picture needed to monitor the incidence and prevalence of food insecurity in Scotland.
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Haynes E, Brown CR, Wou C, Vogliano C, Guell C, Unwin N. Health and other impacts of community food production in Small Island Developing States: a systematic scoping review. Rev Panam Salud Publica 2018; 42:e176. [PMID: 31093204 PMCID: PMC6385939 DOI: 10.26633/rpsp.2018.176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2018] [Accepted: 11/01/2018] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To explore what is known on community-based food production initiatives (CFPIs) in Small Island Developing States, particularly the health, social, economic, and environmental impacts of and on CFPIs. METHODS This was a systematic scoping review using 14 electronic databases to identify articles published from 1997 to 2016 on the topic of CFPIs in Small Island Developing States. From 8 215 articles found, 153 were eligible and abstracted. Analysis focused on geographic location, typology, methodology, study design, theoretical frameworks, and impacts. RESULTS Most research was conducted in the Pacific or Caribbean (49% and 43% of studies, respectively) and primarily focused on fishing and crop farming (40%, 34%). Findings indicate a predominance of research focusing on the environmental impact of marine and coastal resources on CFPIs, and very limited evidence of CFPI impact on human health, particularly nutrition and diet-related outcomes. There was a lack of explicit theoretical frameworks to explain the impacts of CFPIs. CONCLUSIONS Evidence of impacts of CPFIs in Small Island Developing States is limited and the approaches taken are inconsistent. This review demonstrates the need and provides a basis for developing a coherent body of methods to examine the impacts of CFPIs and provide evidence to guide policy, especially as it relates to health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily Haynes
- European Centre for Environment & Human Health, University of Exeter Medical School, Truro, United Kingdom.
| | - Catherine R. Brown
- George Alleyne Chronic Disease Research Centre, The University of the West Indies, Bridgetown, Barbados.
| | - Constance Wou
- Medical Research Council Epidemiology Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
| | - Chris Vogliano
- School of Public Health, Massey University, Wellington, New Zealand.
| | - Cornelia Guell
- European Centre for Environment & Human Health, University of Exeter Medical School, Truro, United Kingdom.
| | - Nigel Unwin
- Medical Research Council Epidemiology Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
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Kleve S, Booth S, Davidson ZE, Palermo C. Walking the Food Security Tightrope-Exploring the Experiences of Low-to-Middle Income Melbourne Households. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2018; 15:ijerph15102206. [PMID: 30308968 PMCID: PMC6210237 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph15102206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2018] [Revised: 10/05/2018] [Accepted: 10/06/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
There is limited evidence of how Australian low-to-middle income (AUD $40,000⁻$80,000) households maintain food security. Using a sequential explanatory mixed methods methodology, this study explored and compared the food security (FS) and insecurity (FIS) experiences of these households. An initial quantitative survey categorised participants according to food security status (the 18-item United States Department of Agriculture Household Food Security Survey Module) and income level to identify and purposefully select participants to qualitatively explore food insecurity and security experiences. Of the total number of survey participants (n = 134), 42 were categorised as low-to-middle income. Of these, a subset of 16 participants (8 FIS and 8 FS) was selected, and each participant completed an in-depth interview. The interviews explored precursors, strategies to prevent or address food insecurity, and the implications of the experience. Interview data were analysed using a thematic analysis approach. Five themes emerged from the analysis: (i) food decision experiences, (ii) assets, (iii) triggers, (iv) activation of assets, and (v) consequences and emotion related to walking the food security tightrope. The leverage points across all themes were more volatile for FIS participants. Low-to-middle income Australians are facing the challenges of trying to maintain or improve their food security status, with similarities to those described in lower income groups, and should be included in approaches to prevent or address food insecurity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sue Kleve
- Department of Nutrition, Dietetics and Food, School of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Level 1, 264 Ferntree Gully Road, Notting Hill 3168, Australia.
| | - Sue Booth
- College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, GPO Box 2100, Adelaide 5000, Australia.
| | - Zoe E Davidson
- Department of Nutrition, Dietetics and Food, School of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Level 1, 264 Ferntree Gully Road, Notting Hill 3168, Australia.
| | - Claire Palermo
- Department of Nutrition, Dietetics and Food, School of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Level 1, 264 Ferntree Gully Road, Notting Hill 3168, Australia.
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Abstract
Household food insecurity is a serious public health concern in high-income countries. Canada and the USA regularly monitor household food insecurity, while in other countries, such as the UK, it has been the rapid rise of food bank usage that has drawn increased attention to this longstanding, but largely overlooked, problem. This review evaluates evidence on interventions intended to reduce household food insecurity in high-income countries. Research on social protection interventions suggests both cash transfers and food subsidies (e.g. the US Supplement Nutrition and Assistance Programme) reduce household food insecurity. In contrast, research on community-level interventions, such as food banks and other food programmes, suggests limited impacts. Although food banks have become a common intervention for food insecurity in high-income countries, evidence suggests their reliance on donations of volunteer time and food make them inevitably limited in the assistance they are able to provide. The stigma people feel using food banks may also make them untenable. Alternatives to, or enhanced, food banks such as community shops or community kitchens, have become common, but evidence also suggests they may be limited in effectiveness if they do not reach people experiencing food insecurity. This review highlights the difficulty of trying to address household food insecurity with community-based food interventions when solutions likely lie upstream in social protection policies.
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Long MA, Stretesky PB, Graham PL, Palmer KJ, Steinbock E, Defeyter MA. The impact of holiday clubs on household food insecurity-A pilot study. HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE IN THE COMMUNITY 2018; 26:e261-e269. [PMID: 29024211 DOI: 10.1111/hsc.12507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/09/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
This research investigates whether holiday clubs have the potential to reduce food insecurity among households in the United Kingdom. We survey parents (n = 38) of children attending seven different holiday clubs to estimate the percentage of children in those programmes who come from food insecure households. Results suggest that 42% (16 out of 38 respondents) of children come from households defined as "food insecure" and 24% (9 out of 38 respondents) come from households that are "food insecure with hunger." When secure and insecure households are compared, we discover that food insecure households benefit the most from holiday clubs, which suggests that they may play an important role in mitigating household food insecurity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael A Long
- Social Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Paul B Stretesky
- Social Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | | | - Katie Jane Palmer
- Food Cardiff, Public Health Team, Cardiff, UK
- Vale University Health Board, Whitchurch Hospital, Cardiff, UK
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20
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Alaimo K, Beavers AW, Crawford C, Snyder EH, Litt JS. Amplifying Health Through Community Gardens: A Framework for Advancing Multicomponent, Behaviorally Based Neighborhood Interventions. Curr Environ Health Rep 2018; 3:302-12. [PMID: 27379424 DOI: 10.1007/s40572-016-0105-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The article presents a framework for understanding the relationship between community garden participation, and the myriad ways gardens and participation lead to emotional, social, and health impacts. Existing empirical research relating community gardens to health behaviors, such as physical activity and diet, and longer-term chronic disease-related outcomes is summarized. The research areas discussed include the effects of community garden participation on individual, social, emotional, and environmental processes; health behaviors including diet and physical activity; and health outcomes such as self-rated health, obesity, and mental health. Other mechanisms through which community gardens may affect population health are described. Applying a multitheoretical lens to explore associations between community garden participation and health enables us to delineate key aspects of gardening that elicit positive health behaviors and multifactorial health assets that could be applied to designing other types of health interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine Alaimo
- Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Michigan State University, G. Malcolm Trout Building, Room 208C, 469 Wilson Road, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA
| | - Alyssa W Beavers
- Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Michigan State University, G. Malcolm Trout Building, Room 208C, 469 Wilson Road, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA
| | | | - Elizabeth Hodges Snyder
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Alaska Anchorage, 3211 Providence Drive, DPL 405, Anchorage, AK, 99508-4614, USA
| | - Jill S Litt
- University of Colorado Boulder, 4001 Discovery Drive, Boulder, CO, 80303, USA.
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21
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Middleton G, Mehta K, McNaughton D, Booth S. The experiences and perceptions of food banks amongst users in high-income countries: An international scoping review. Appetite 2018; 120:698-708. [DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2017.10.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2016] [Revised: 09/11/2017] [Accepted: 10/08/2017] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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22
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Mcisaac JLD, Read K, Williams PL, Raine KD, Veugelers PJ, Kirk SFL. Reproducing or Reducing Inequity? Considerations for School Food Programs. CAN J DIET PRACT RES 2017; 79:18-22. [PMID: 28971692 DOI: 10.3148/cjdpr-2017-029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
It is important to consider health inequities when exploring the extent to which school food programs may contribute to the stigmatization and social exclusion of families experiencing food insecurity. As part of a broader school-based project, this paper considers evidence derived from a secondary analysis of research in Nova Scotia (NS). In the original research, interviews were conducted with key stakeholders involved in supporting health promotion activities across NS elementary schools. For this article, data were re-examined using tenets of critical discourse analysis to evaluate if school practices were addressing the root social issues by identifying patterns in language and institutional norms. Our findings suggested that further illumination of programs may be needed to ensure that they do not contribute to the stigmatization and social exclusion of families experiencing food insecurity. Nutrition professionals are in a position to engage families experiencing food insecurity in policy action that will shift from a focus on individual determinants towards the social-structural conditions that underlie the complex issue of food insecurity.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kendra Read
- b Northern Zone, Nova Scotia Health Authority, Halifax, NS
| | - Patricia L Williams
- c Department of Applied Human Nutrition, Mount Saint Vincent University, Halifax, NS
| | - Kim D Raine
- d School of Public Health, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB
| | | | - Sara F L Kirk
- a Healthy Populations Institute, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS
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23
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Informal assistance to urban families and the risk of household food insecurity. Soc Sci Med 2017; 189:105-113. [DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2017.07.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2016] [Revised: 07/23/2017] [Accepted: 07/31/2017] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
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The pervasive effect of youth self-report of hunger on depression over 6 years of follow up. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 2017; 52:537-547. [PMID: 28285453 DOI: 10.1007/s00127-017-1361-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2016] [Accepted: 02/16/2017] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE We used longitudinal data to clarify the association between self-report of hunger and subsequent depression risk among youth and young adults, accounting for other risk factors. METHODS Youth self-report of ever experiencing hunger data were collected from cycles 4-6 of the National Longitudinal Survey of Children and Youth cohort of Canadian youth 16 years and older (n = 4139). Data on depressive symptoms (CES-D 12) were collected over three cycles (2004-2009, cycles 6-8). We used multivariable regression based on generalized estimating equations (GEE) to examine prior youth hunger on later depression risk, adjusting for time-stable, time-varying, and lagged variables (e.g., depressive symptoms in previous cycle), thereby clarifying the temporal relationship. RESULTS The prevalence of youth hunger experience and depression risk reached 5.9 and 15.0%, respectively. The adjusted odds ratio of depression for participants reporting hunger was 2.31 (95% CI 1.54, 3.46) and changed little [2.17 (95% CI 1.29, 3.67)] after accounting for previous CES-D 12 scores, suggesting a temporal relationship in which hunger contributes to depression risk. Unlike never-hungry youth, depression in ever-hungry youth remained comparatively elevated over time. CONCLUSIONS Our models support an independent and temporal relationship between youth self-report of hunger and depression in adolescence and young adulthood.
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McCullum C, Pelletier D, Barr D, Wilkins J, Habicht JP. Mechanisms of Power Within a Community-Based Food Security Planning Process. HEALTH EDUCATION & BEHAVIOR 2016; 31:206-22. [PMID: 15090122 DOI: 10.1177/1090198103259163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
A community food security movement has begun to address problems of hunger and food insecurity by uti-lizing a community-basedapproach.Althoughvarious models have been implemented,little empirical researchhasassessed howpoweroperateswithincommunity-basedfoodsecurityinitiatives.Thepurposeofthisresearchwas to determine how power influenced participation in decision-making, agenda setting, and the shaping ofperceived needs within a community-based food security planning process, with particular reference to disen-franchised stakeholders. Power influenced participation in decision-making, agenda setting, and the shaping ofperceived needs through managing 1) problem framing, 2) trust, 3) knowledge, and 4) consent. To overcomethese mechanismsof power, practitionersneed to address individual-,community-,and institutional-level barri-ers to participation in community-based food security planning processes. Practitioners and researchers canwork with disenfranchised groups to determine which agents have the power to create desired changes by utiliz-ing theory-based methods and strategies that focus on changing external determinants at multiple levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine McCullum
- Center for Health Promotion & Prevention Research, School of Public Health, University of Texas at Houston, 77030, USA.
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26
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Andrée P, Langille L, Clement C, Williams P, Norgang E. Structural Constraints and Enablers to Community Food Security in Nova Scotia, Canada. JOURNAL OF HUNGER & ENVIRONMENTAL NUTRITION 2016. [DOI: 10.1080/19320248.2016.1157547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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27
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Atkey KM, Raine KD, Storey KE, Willows ND. A Public Policy Advocacy Project to Promote Food Security: Exploring Stakeholders' Experiences. Health Promot Pract 2016; 17:623-30. [PMID: 27199148 DOI: 10.1177/1524839916643918] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
To achieve food security in Canada, comprehensive approaches are required, which involve action at the public policy level. This qualitative study explored the experiences of 14 stakeholders engaging in a 9-month participatory public policy advocacy project to promote community food security in the province of Alberta through the initiation of a campaign to develop a Universal School Food Strategy. Through this exploration, four main themes were identified; a positive and open space to contribute ideas, diversity and common ground, confidence and capacity, and uncertainty. Findings from this study suggest that the participatory advocacy project provided a positive and open space for stakeholders to contribute ideas, through which the group was able to narrow its focus and establish a goal for advocacy. The project also seems to have contributed to the group's confidence and capacity to engage in advocacy by creating a space for learning and knowledge sharing, though stakeholders expressed uncertainty regarding some aspects of the project. Findings from this study support the use of participatory approaches as a strategy for facilitating engagement in public policy advocacy and provide insight into one group's advocacy experience, which may help to inform community-based researchers and advocates in the development of advocacy initiatives to promote community food security elsewhere.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kim D Raine
- University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
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28
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Roncarolo F, Bisset S, Potvin L. Short-Term Effects of Traditional and Alternative Community Interventions to Address Food Insecurity. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0150250. [PMID: 26974826 PMCID: PMC4790888 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0150250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2015] [Accepted: 02/11/2016] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Despite the effects of food insecurity on health are well documented, clear governmental policies to face food insecurity do not exist in western countries. In Canada, interventions to face food insecurity are developed at the community level and can be categorized into two basic strategies: those providing an immediate response to the need for food, defined “traditional” and those targeting the improvement of participants’ social cohesion, capabilities and management of their own nutrition, defined “alternative”. Objective The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of food insecurity interventions on food security status and perceived health of participants. Design This was a longitudinal multilevel study implemented in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Participants were recruited in a two-stage cluster sampling frame. Clustering units were community organizations working on food insecurity; units of analysis were participants in community food security interventions. A total of 450 participants were interviewed at the beginning and after 9 months of participation in traditional or alternative food security interventions. Food security and perceived health were investigated as dependent variables. Differences overtime were assessed through multilevel regression models. Results Participants in traditional interventions lowered their food insecurity at follow-up. Decreases among participants in alternative interventions were not statistically significant. Participants in traditional interventions also improved physical (B coefficient 3.00, CI 95% 0.42–5.59) and mental health (B coefficient 6.25, CI 95% 4.15–8.35). Conclusions Our results challenge the widely held view suggesting the ineffectiveness of traditional interventions in the short term. Although effects may be intervention-dependent, food banks decreased food insecurity and, in so doing, positively affected perceived health. Although study findings demonstrate that food banks offer short term reprise from the effects of food insecurity, the question as to whether food banks are the most appropriate solution to food insecurity still needs to be addressed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federico Roncarolo
- Public Health Research Institute, University of Montreal (IRSPUM), Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Public Health School, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Canada Research Chair in Community approaches and health inequalities, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- * E-mail:
| | - Sherri Bisset
- Agence de la santé et de services sociaux de la Montérégie, Quebec, Canada
| | - Louise Potvin
- Public Health Research Institute, University of Montreal (IRSPUM), Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Public Health School, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Canada Research Chair in Community approaches and health inequalities, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Lea Roback Research Centre, Montreal Public Health Directorate, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
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29
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Roncarolo F, Adam C, Bisset S, Potvin L. Traditional and alternative community food security interventions in Montréal, Québec: different practices, different people. J Community Health 2015; 40:199-207. [PMID: 25012098 DOI: 10.1007/s10900-014-9917-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Food insecurity is steadily increasing in developed countries. Traditional interventions adopted to tackle food insecurity, like food banks, address the urgent need for food. By contrast, alternative interventions, such as community gardens and kitchens, are oriented towards social integration and the development of mutual aid networks. The objective of this paper is to examine whether the populations served by traditional and alternative interventions in food security differ according to measures of vulnerability. We studied newly registered participants to food security interventions. Participants were selected from a random sample of food security community organizations in a two-stage cluster sampling frame. The categorizing variable was participation in a community organization providing either traditional interventions or alternative interventions. Seven measures of vulnerability were used: food security; perceived health; civic participation; perceived social support of the primary network, social isolation, income and education. Regression multilevel models were used to assess associations. 711 participants in traditional interventions and 113 in alternative interventions were enrolled in the study. Between group differences were found with respect to food insecurity, health status perception, civic participation, education and income, but not with respect to social isolation or perceived social support from primary social network. Traditional and alternative food security interventions seem to reach different populations. Participants in traditional interventions were found to have less access to resources, compared to those in alternative interventions. Thus, new participants in traditional interventions may have higher levers of vulnerability than those in alternative interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federico Roncarolo
- Institut de recherche en santé publique de l'université de Montréal (IRSPUM), Pavillon 7101 avenue du Parc, C.P. 6128, Succ. Centre-Ville, Montréal, QC, H3C 3J7, Canada,
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30
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The Association Between Food Insufficiency and HIV Treatment Outcomes in a Longitudinal Analysis of HIV-Infected Individuals in New York City. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr 2015; 69:329-37. [PMID: 25751230 DOI: 10.1097/qai.0000000000000596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND To date, there have been few longitudinal studies of food insecurity among people living with HIV (PLWH). Food insufficiency (FI) is one dimension of the food insecurity construct that refers to periods of time during which individuals have an inadequate amount of food intake because of limited resources. The aim of this analysis was to examine the relationship between FI and HIV treatment outcomes among HIV-infected individuals in New York City (NYC). METHODS Associations between FI ("consistent"--food insufficient on both of the last 2 assessments, "inconsistent"--food insufficient on 1 of the last 2 assessments, or neither) and clinical indicators of HIV disease progression (viral load > 200 copies per milliliter, CD4 count < 200 cells per cubic millimeter) were analyzed for NYC Ryan White Part A food and nutrition program clients who were matched to the NYC HIV Surveillance Registry and completed 2 FI assessments between November 2011 and June 2013. RESULTS Among 2,118 PLWH in food and nutrition programs, 61% experienced consistent FI and 25% experienced inconsistent FI. In multivariate analyses controlling for sociodemographic characteristics, consistent FI was independently associated with unsuppressed viral load (adjusted odds ratio = 1.6, confidence interval: 1.1 to 2.5). Consistent FI was only associated with low CD4 counts at the bivariate level. CONCLUSIONS Future studies should examine biological, structural, and psychosocial factors that may explain the relationship between FI and HIV treatment outcomes to inform intervention development. Persistent FI among food and nutrition program clients suggests that services are needed to address underlying needs for financial stability (eg, vocational counseling) for PLWH.
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Weiler AM, Hergesheimer C, Brisbois B, Wittman H, Yassi A, Spiegel JM. Food sovereignty, food security and health equity: a meta-narrative mapping exercise. Health Policy Plan 2015; 30:1078-92. [PMID: 25288515 PMCID: PMC4559116 DOI: 10.1093/heapol/czu109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/29/2014] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
There has been growing policy interest in social justice issues related to both health and food. We sought to understand the state of knowledge on relationships between health equity--i.e. health inequalities that are socially produced--and food systems, where the concepts of 'food security' and 'food sovereignty' are prominent. We undertook exploratory scoping and mapping stages of a 'meta-narrative synthesis' on pathways from global food systems to health equity outcomes. The review was oriented by a conceptual framework delineating eight pathways to health (in)equity through the food system: 1--Multi-Scalar Environmental, Social Context; 2--Occupational Exposures; 3--Environmental Change; 4--Traditional Livelihoods, Cultural Continuity; 5--Intake of Contaminants; 6--Nutrition; 7--Social Determinants of Health and 8--Political, Economic and Regulatory context. The terms 'food security' and 'food sovereignty' were, respectively, paired with a series of health equity-related terms. Combinations of health equity and food security (1414 citations) greatly outnumbered pairings with food sovereignty (18 citations). Prominent crosscutting themes that were observed included climate change, biotechnology, gender, racialization, indigeneity, poverty, citizenship and HIV as well as institutional barriers to reducing health inequities in the food system. The literature indicates that food sovereignty-based approaches to health in specific contexts, such as advancing healthy school food systems, promoting soil fertility, gender equity and nutrition, and addressing structural racism, can complement the longer-term socio-political restructuring processes that health equity requires. Our conceptual model offers a useful starting point for identifying interventions with strong potential to promote health equity. A research agenda to explore project-based interventions in the food system along these pathways can support the identification of ways to strengthen both food sovereignty and health equity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anelyse M Weiler
- Sociology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada, Faculty of Land and Food Systems, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada, Global Health Research Program, School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia Sociology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada, Faculty of Land and Food Systems, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada, Global Health Research Program, School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia
| | - Chris Hergesheimer
- Sociology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada, Faculty of Land and Food Systems, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada, Global Health Research Program, School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia
| | - Ben Brisbois
- Sociology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada, Faculty of Land and Food Systems, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada, Global Health Research Program, School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia
| | - Hannah Wittman
- Sociology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada, Faculty of Land and Food Systems, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada, Global Health Research Program, School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia
| | - Annalee Yassi
- Sociology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada, Faculty of Land and Food Systems, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada, Global Health Research Program, School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia
| | - Jerry M Spiegel
- Sociology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada, Faculty of Land and Food Systems, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada, Global Health Research Program, School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia
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Roncarolo F, Adam C, Bisset S, Potvin L. Food capacities and satisfaction in participants in food security community interventions in Montreal, Canada. Health Promot Int 2015; 31:879-887. [PMID: 26271123 DOI: 10.1093/heapro/dav085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Food insecurity is steadily increasing in Canada. The objective of this paper is to determine if food capacities and satisfaction of recently enrolled participants in food security interventions are associated with the intervention having either a traditional or an alternative type of approach. Participants having recently accessed traditional (n = 711) or alternative community interventions (n = 113) in the Montreal metropolitan area, Canada, were interviewed with a questionnaire. The categorizing variable was participation in a community organization providing either traditional interventions, aimed to help people cope with the urgent need of food, or alternative interventions, aimed at first assistance, in addition to the creation of long-term solutions such as social integration and skills development. Participants' food and nutrition-related capacities and food satisfaction are studied. Multilevel regression models were used to assess whether participants took part in a traditional or alternative interventions. These interventions do not reach the same population. Relative to participants in alternative food security interventions, participants in traditional interventions demonstrated less capacity for accessing information about food safety and healthiness, and perceived their diet as less healthy. Traditional food security participants also paid less attention to the nutritional properties of food and reported less satisfaction with quantity, variety and taste of the food they accessed. The reasons why individuals who may benefit the most from alternative interventions were unlikely to participate should be investigated. The potential that food security interventions may inadvertently reinforce social inequalities in health should be considered in future intervention research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federico Roncarolo
- IRSPUM, Institut de Recherche en Santé Publique de l'Universitè de Montréal, Pavillon 7101 Avenue du Parc, C.P. 6128, Succ. Centre-Ville, Montréal, QC, Canada H3C 3J7 .,PHIRNET, Population Health Intervention Research Network, Canada.,Chaire Approches Communautaires et Inégalités de Santé, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Caroline Adam
- Chaire Approches Communautaires et Inégalités de Santé, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada.,École de Santé Publique, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Sherri Bisset
- Agence de la Santé et de Services Sociaux de la Montérégie, Longueuil, QC, Canada
| | - Louise Potvin
- IRSPUM, Institut de Recherche en Santé Publique de l'Universitè de Montréal, Pavillon 7101 Avenue du Parc, C.P. 6128, Succ. Centre-Ville, Montréal, QC, Canada H3C 3J7.,PHIRNET, Population Health Intervention Research Network, Canada.,Chaire Approches Communautaires et Inégalités de Santé, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada.,École de Santé Publique, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
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Douglas F, Sapko J, Kiezebrink K, Kyle J. Resourcefulness, Desperation, Shame, Gratitude and Powerlessness: Common Themes Emerging from A Study of Food Bank Use in Northeast Scotland. AIMS Public Health 2015; 2:297-317. [PMID: 29546112 PMCID: PMC5690237 DOI: 10.3934/publichealth.2015.3.297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2015] [Accepted: 06/29/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
There is growing policy maker and public concern about current trends in food bank use in Scotland. Yet little is known about the experiences of those seeking help from food banks in this country. This research aimed to address this issue by studying the use and operation of a food bank situated in a rich northeast city during January and June 2014. The study aimed to establish who was seeking help from the food bank, their reasons for doing so, and what those who did thought of, and dealt with the food they received from it. Consequently, an audit of the food bank's client database, four months of participant observation based in the food bank, and seven face-to-face interviews with current and former food bank clients were conducted. The audit revealed that clients came from a range of socio-economic backgrounds, with men more likely to access it compared to women. Debt and social security benefit delays were cited as the main reasons for doing so. Qualitative data confirmed that sudden and unanticipated loss of income was a key driver of use. Resourcefulness in making donated food last as long as possible, keeping fuel costs low, and concern to minimise food waste were commonly described by participants. Desperation, gratitude, shame and powerlessness were also prevalent themes. Furthermore, clients were reluctant to ask for food they normally ate, as they were acutely aware that the food bank had little control over what it was able offer. Insights from this study suggest that recent UK policy proposals to address food poverty may have limited impact, without concomitant effort to address material disadvantage. Research is urgently required to determine the precise nature and extent of household level food insecurity in Scotland, and to consider monitoring for adverse physical and mental health outcomes for those affected by it.
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Affiliation(s)
- Flora Douglas
- Rowett Institute of Nutrition and Health, University of Aberdeen, AB25 2ZD, Scotland
| | - Jennifer Sapko
- Institute of Applied Health Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Scotland
| | - Kirsty Kiezebrink
- Institute of Applied Health Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Scotland
| | - Janet Kyle
- Institute of Applied Health Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Scotland
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Garthwaite K, Collins P, Bambra C. Food for thought: An ethnographic study of negotiating ill health and food insecurity in a UK foodbank. Soc Sci Med 2015; 132:38-44. [DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2015.03.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
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Lindberg R, Whelan J, Lawrence M, Gold L, Friel S. Still serving hot soup? Two hundred years of a charitable food sector in Australia: a narrative review. Aust N Z J Public Health 2015; 39:358-65. [DOI: 10.1111/1753-6405.12311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2014] [Revised: 06/01/2014] [Accepted: 09/01/2014] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Lindberg
- School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences; Faculty of Health, Deakin University; Victoria
| | - Jillian Whelan
- The CO-OPS Collaboration, WHO Collaborating Centre for Obesity Prevention, Deakin Population Health SRC, Faculty of Health, Deakin University; Victoria
| | - Mark Lawrence
- School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences; Faculty of Health, Deakin University; Victoria
| | - Lisa Gold
- Deakin Population Health SRC, Faculty of Health; Deakin University; Victoria
| | - Sharon Friel
- National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, The Australian National University, ACT
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Chan J, DeMelo M, Gingras J, Gucciardi E. Challenges of Diabetes Self-Management in Adults Affected by Food Insecurity in a Large Urban Centre of Ontario, Canada. Int J Endocrinol 2015; 2015:903468. [PMID: 26576154 PMCID: PMC4630390 DOI: 10.1155/2015/903468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2015] [Revised: 07/20/2015] [Accepted: 09/10/2015] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective. To explore how food insecurity affects individuals' ability to manage their diabetes, as narrated by participants living in a large, culturally diverse urban centre. Design. Qualitative study comprising of in-depth interviews, using a semistructured interview guide. Setting. Participants were recruited from the local community, three community health centres, and a community-based diabetes education centre servicing a low-income population in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Participants. Twenty-one English-speaking adults with a diagnosis of diabetes and having experienced food insecurity in the past year (based on three screening questions). Method. Using six phases of analysis, we used qualitative, deductive thematic analysis to transcribe, code, and analyze participant interviews. Main Findings. Three themes emerged from our analysis of participants' experiences of living with food insecurity and diabetes: (1) barriers to accessing and preparing food, (2) social isolation, and (3) enhancing agency and resilience. Conclusion. Food insecurity appears to negatively impact diabetes self-management. Healthcare professionals need to be cognizant of resources, skills, and supports appropriate for people with diabetes affected by food insecurity. Study findings suggest foci for enhancing diabetes self-management support.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justine Chan
- Ryerson University, 350 Victoria Street, Toronto, ON, Canada M5B 2K3
- *Justine Chan: and
| | - Margaret DeMelo
- University Health Network, 399 Bathurst Street, Toronto, ON, Canada M5T 2S8
| | - Jacqui Gingras
- Ryerson University, 350 Victoria Street, Toronto, ON, Canada M5B 2K3
| | - Enza Gucciardi
- Ryerson University, 350 Victoria Street, Toronto, ON, Canada M5B 2K3
- *Enza Gucciardi:
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McIntyre L, Bartoo AC, Emery JCH. When working is not enough: food insecurity in the Canadian labour force. Public Health Nutr 2014; 17:49-57. [PMID: 22958521 PMCID: PMC10282223 DOI: 10.1017/s1368980012004053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2012] [Revised: 07/23/2012] [Accepted: 08/01/2012] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Food insecurity, lack of access to food due to financial constraints, is highly associated with poor health outcomes. Households dependent on social assistance are at increased risk of experiencing food insecurity, but food insecurity has also been reported in households reporting their main source of income from employment/wages (working households). The objective of the present study was to examine the correlates of food insecurity among households reliant on employment income. DESIGN Working households reporting food insecurity were studied through analysis of the Canadian Community Health Survey, 2007-2008, employing descriptive statistics and logistic regression. Food insecurity was measured using the Household Food Security Survey Module; all provinces participated. SETTING Canada. SUBJECTS Canadian households where main income was derived through labour force participation. Social assistance recipients were excluded. RESULTS For the period 2007-2008, 4% of working households reported food insecurity. Canadian households reliant on primary earners with less education and lower incomes were significantly more likely to experience food insecurity; these differences were accentuated across some industry sectors. Residence in Quebec was protective. Working households experiencing food insecurity were more likely to include earners reporting multiples jobs and higher job stress. Visible minority workers with comparable education levels experienced higher rates of food insecurity than European-origin workers. CONCLUSIONS Reliance on employment income does not eliminate food insecurity for a significant proportion of households, and disproportionately so for households with racialized minority workers. Increases in work stress may increase the susceptibility to poor health outcomes of workers residing in households reporting food insecurity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lynn McIntyre
- Department of Community Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Calgary, Teaching Research & Wellness (TRW) Building, Room 3E14 (3rd Floor), 3280 Hospital Dr. NW, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, T2N 4Z6
| | - Aaron C Bartoo
- Department of Community Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Calgary, Teaching Research & Wellness (TRW) Building, Room 3E14 (3rd Floor), 3280 Hospital Dr. NW, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, T2N 4Z6
| | - JC Herbert Emery
- Department of Economics, Faculty of Arts, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
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Loopstra R, Tarasuk V. What Does Increasing Severity of Food Insecurity Indicate for Food Insecure Families? Relationships Between Severity of Food Insecurity and Indicators of Material Hardship and Constrained Food Purchasing. JOURNAL OF HUNGER & ENVIRONMENTAL NUTRITION 2013. [DOI: 10.1080/19320248.2013.817960] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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Loopstra R, Tarasuk V. Perspectives on community gardens, community kitchens and the Good Food Box program in a community-based sample of low-income families. Canadian Journal of Public Health 2013. [PMID: 23618120 DOI: 10.1007/bf03405655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Growing recognition of the problem of household food insecurity in Canada has meant public health practitioners are looking for effective ways to ameliorate this problem in their communities. Community gardens, community kitchens, and food box programs can offer nutritious foods for comparably lower costs, however, the uptake and perceptions of these programs in populations at risk of food insecurity have not been evaluated. Building on a previous finding of low program participation among 485 families living in high-poverty neighbourhoods in Toronto, the objective of this study was to understand reasons for non-participation. METHODS One year after the baseline study, 371 families were interviewed a second time and were asked to provide their reasons for not participating in community gardens, community kitchens, or the Good Food Box program. Responses were analyzed by inductive content analysis. RESULTS At follow-up, only 12 families had participated in a community garden, 16 in a community kitchen, and 4 in the Good Food Box program. Reasons for non-participation grouped under two themes. First, families expressed that programs were not accessible because they lacked the knowledge of how or where to participate or because programs were not in their neighbourhoods. Second, programs lacked fit for families, as they were not suited to busy schedules, interests, or needs. CONCLUSIONS This study provides unique perspective on participation in community food programs among food-insecure families and suggests that these programs may not be effective options for these families to improve their food access.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel Loopstra
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON.
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Miewald C, Holben D, Hall P. Role of a food box program in fruit and vegetable consumption and food security. CAN J DIET PRACT RES 2012; 73:59-65. [PMID: 22668838 DOI: 10.3148/73.2.2012.59] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE We examined whether participation in a food box program has a positive effect on fruit and vegetable consumption and food security. METHODS Participants and nonparticipants in a food box program were surveyed to determine differences between the two groups and change over time. RESULTS Fruit and vegetable intake declined in those who left the program after several months, and intake of fruit, carrots, and vegetables was lower among those who had left than among those who remained in the program. Food insecurity was associated with lower intakes of fruit and vegetables. CONCLUSIONS Participation in a food box program can provide some benefit in terms of increased fruit and vegetable consumption for those who use the program regularly. Increasing the frequency of the box and encouraging continued use may improve these effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christiana Miewald
- Centre for Sustainable Community Development, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC
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McIntyre L, Bartoo AC, Pow J, Potestio ML. Coping with child hunger in Canada: have household strategies changed over a decade? Canadian Journal of Public Health 2012. [PMID: 23618022 DOI: 10.1007/bf03405632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To determine if household coping strategies for child hunger in Canada have changed over a decade (1996-2007). METHODS We applied t-tests to data derived from Cycle 2 (1996-1997; n=8165) and Cycle 7 (2006-2007; n=15,961) of the National Longitudinal Survey of Children and Youth (NLSCY) to determine changes in household coping strategies for child hunger. Data were restricted to households with children aged 2-9 years, allowing for cross-sectional analysis of two independent samples. Logistic regression was employed to estimate the odds of reporting child hunger for socio-demographic characteristics and the odds of using different coping strategies. RESULTS The national prevalence of child hunger fell from 1.5% in 1997 to 0.7% in 2007 (p<0.001). The determinants of child hunger (increased child age and household size, lack of home ownership, low household income, lone-parent status, family dysfunction) and hunger frequency (regular versus occasional) were similar in both NLSCY cycles. Utilization of food banks and other community resources as a method of coping with child hunger remained static despite an increase in national food banks/affiliated agencies in Canada (2,141 in 1998 to 3,540 in 2007). In contrast, there was an increased reliance on reducing household food variety, an internal coping mechanism, to manage child hunger (17.6% Cycle 2 to 35.1% Cycle 7; p=0.03). CONCLUSION Community outreach programs between 1997 and 2007 had little impact on coping strategies utilized by households facing child hunger. Our results indicate that current initiatives fail to reach these families.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lynn McIntyre
- Dept. of Community Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Calgary, AB.
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Abstract
OBJECTIVE Community kitchens have been implemented by communities as a public health strategy to prevent food insecurity through reducing social isolation, improving food and cooking skills and empowering participants. The aim of the present paper was to investigate whether community kitchens can improve the social and nutritional health of participants and their families. DESIGN A systematic review of the literature was conducted including searches of seven databases with no date limitations. SETTING Community kitchens internationally. SUBJECTS Participants of community kitchens across the world. RESULTS Ten studies (eight qualitative studies, one mixed-method study and one cross-sectional study) were selected for inclusion. Evidence synthesis suggested that community kitchens may be an effective strategy to improve participants' cooking skills, social interactions and nutritional intake. Community kitchens may also play a role in improving participants' budgeting skills and address some concerns around food insecurity. Long-term solutions are required to address income-related food insecurity. CONCLUSIONS Community kitchens may improve social interactions and nutritional intake of participants and their families. More rigorous research methods, for both qualitative and quantitative studies, are required to effectively assess the impact of community kitchens on social and nutritional health in order to confidently recommend them as a strategy in evidence-based public health practice.
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Law IR, Ward PR, Coveney J. Food insecurity in South Australian single parents: an assessment of the livelihoods framework approach. CRITICAL PUBLIC HEALTH 2011. [DOI: 10.1080/09581596.2011.619963] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
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Ramsey R, Giskes K, Turrell G, Gallegos D. Food insecurity among Australian children: potential determinants, health and developmental consequences. J Child Health Care 2011; 15:401-16. [PMID: 22199175 DOI: 10.1177/1367493511423854] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Children in food-insecure households may be at risk of poor health, developmental or behavioural problems. This study investigated the associations between food insecurity, potential determinants and health and developmental outcomes among children. Data on household food security, socio-demographic characteristics and children's weight, health and behaviour were collected from households with children aged 3-17 years in socioeconomically disadvantaged suburbs by mail survey using proxy-parental reports (185 households). Data were analysed using logistic regression. Approximately one-in-three households (34%) were food insecure. Low household income was associated with an increased risk of food insecurity [odds ratio (OR), 16.20; 95% confidence interval (CI), 3.52-74.47]. Children with a parent born outside of Australia were less likely to experience food insecurity (OR, 0.42; 95% CI, 0.19-0.93). Children in food-insecure households were more likely to miss days from school or activities (OR, 3.52; 95% CI, 1.46-8.54) and were more likely to have borderline or atypical emotional symptoms (OR, 2.44; 95% CI, 1.11-5.38) or behavioural difficulties (OR, 2.35; 95% CI, 1.04-5.33). Food insecurity may be prevalent among socioeconomically disadvantaged households with children. The potential developmental consequences of food insecurity during childhood may result in serious adverse health and social implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Ramsey
- Queensland University of Technology, School of Public Health, Brisbane, Australia.
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Wesche S, Schuster RC, Tobin P, Dickson C, Matthiessen D, Graupe S, Williams M, Chan HM. Community-based health research led by the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation. Int J Circumpolar Health 2011; 70:396-406. [PMID: 21884655 DOI: 10.3402/ijch.v70i4.17846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES This paper documents an exceptional research partnership developed between the Vuntut Gwitchin Government (VGG) in Old Crow, Yukon, with a group of scientists to examine northern food security and health as part of a larger, multidisciplinary International Polar Year (IPY) research program. We focus on the elements that enabled a successful community-researcher relationship. Study design. The VGG led the development of the research and acted as Principal Investigator on the IPY grant. The multidisciplinary collaboration spanned the physical, biological and health sciences, including issues related to food security. METHODS The food security and health component of this research was carried out using a series of complementary methods, including focus groups, structured interviews, a household questionnaire, an interactive workshop, community meetings, transcript analysis and a caribou flesh exposure assessment. RESULTS Results from the food security component are informing local and regional adaptation planning. The legacy of the research collaboration includes a number of results-based outputs for a range of stakeholders, a community-based environmental monitoring program, long-term research relationships and improved community capacity. CONCLUSIONS The type of collaboration described here provides a useful model for new types of participatory health research with northern communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonia Wesche
- Community Health Sciences, University of Northern British Columbia, Prince George, Canada
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Community level interventions to improve food security in developed countries. THE COCHRANE DATABASE OF SYSTEMATIC REVIEWS 2010. [DOI: 10.1002/14651858.cd008913] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
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Roustit C, Hamelin AM, Grillo F, Martin J, Chauvin P. Food insecurity: could school food supplementation help break cycles of intergenerational transmission of social inequalities? Pediatrics 2010; 126:1174-81. [PMID: 21098149 DOI: 10.1542/peds.2009-3574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The aim of our study was to investigate the moderating effect of school food programs in schools in disadvantaged neighborhoods on the association between household food insecurity and scholastic difficulties among adolescents. METHODS We analyzed data from the Social and Health Survey of Children and Adolescents in Quebec, Canada, which was conducted in 1999 and included 2346 adolescent students 13 and 16 years of age (and 1983 of their parents). Sample-weighted regression analyses were performed to determine the association between household food insecurity and school difficulties and to explore the moderating role of food supplementation programs with respect to this association. RESULTS Household food insecurity, which was linked to the indicators of family socioeconomic status, was strongly associated with the indicators of scholastic difficulties. This association disappeared for adolescents who benefited from food supplementation programs in schools in disadvantaged neighborhoods. The risk of school activity limitation decreased from OR = 2.76 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.41-5.41) to OR = 1.57 (95% CI: 1.35-3.40), the risk of below-average grades in the language of instruction decreased from OR = 2.19 (95% CI: 1.28-3.74) to OR = 0.59 (95% CI: 0.21-1.63), the risk of repeating a year decreased from OR = 2.14 (95% CI: 1.35-3.40) to OR = 0.87 (95% CI: 0.42-1.81), and the risk of self-rated poor academic performance decreased from OR = 1.74 (95% CI: 1.08-2.81) to OR = 0.81(95% CI: 0.37-1.78). CONCLUSION School food supplementation is a moderating factor in the association between household food insecurity and scholastic difficulties for adolescents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christelle Roustit
- INSERM U707, Research Group on the Social Determinants of Health and Healthcare, 27, rue Chaligny, Paris 75012, France.
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Kirkpatrick SI, Tarasuk V. Food insecurity and participation in community food programs among low-income Toronto families. Canadian Journal of Public Health 2010. [PMID: 19839291 DOI: 10.1007/bf03405523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Responses to food insecurity in Canada have been dominated by community-based food initiatives, while little attention has been paid to potential policy directions to alleviate this problem. The purpose of this paper is to examine food security circumstances, participation in community food programs, and strategies employed in response to food shortages among a sample of low-income families residing in high-poverty Toronto neighbourhoods. METHODS Data from surveys conducted with 484 families and neighbourhood mapping were analyzed. RESULTS Two thirds of families were food insecure over the past 12 months and over one quarter were severely food insecure, indicative of food deprivation. Only one in five families used food banks in the past 12 months and the odds of use were higher among food-insecure families. One third of families participated in children's food programs but participation was not associated with household food security. One in 20 families used a community kitchen, and participation in community gardens was even lower. It was relatively common for families to delay payments of bills or rent and terminate services as a way to free up money for food and these behaviours were positively associated with food insecurity. DISCUSSION While documenting high rates of food insecurity, this research challenges the presumption that current community-based food initiatives are reaching those in need. Public health practitioners have a responsibility to critically examine the programs that they deliver to assess their relevance to food-insecure households and to advocate for policy reforms to ensure that low-income households have adequate resources for food.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sharon I Kirkpatrick
- Department of Community Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.
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Hamelin AM, Mercier C, Bédard A. Discrepancies in households and other stakeholders viewpoints on the food security experience: a gap to address. HEALTH EDUCATION RESEARCH 2010; 25:401-412. [PMID: 19564176 DOI: 10.1093/her/cyp033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
This paper reports results from a case study on household food insecurity needs and the interventions that address them. It aimed at comparing households' perceptions on food insecurity experience and vulnerability to those of other stakeholders: community workers, programme managers and representatives from donor agencies. Semi-structured interviews with 55 households and 59 other stakeholders were conducted. Content analysis was performed, using a framework encompassing food sufficiency, characterization of household food insecurity and vulnerability of households to food insecurity. Overall, the results draw attention to a gap between households and the other stakeholders, where the later do not seem always able to assess the realities of food-insecure households. Other areas of divergences include: characteristics of food insecurity, relative importance of various risk factors related to food insecurity and the effectiveness of the community assistance to enhance the households' ability to face food insecurity. These divergent perceptions may jeopardize the implementation of sustainable solutions to food insecurity. Training of stakeholders for a better assessment of households' experience and needs, and systematic evaluation of interventions, appear urgent and highly relevant for an adequate response to households' needs. Collaboration between all stakeholders should lead to knowledge sharing and advocacy for policies dedicated to poverty reduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne-Marie Hamelin
- 1Department of Food Sciences.utrition, Pavillon Paul-Comtois, Université Laval, 2425 rue de l'Agriculture, Québec, QC, Canada G1V 0A6.
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