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Ertl MM, Maroney MR, Becker A, Paschen-Wolff MM, Blankenau A, Hoffman S, Tross S. Sexual and Reproductive Justice and Health Equity for LGBTQ+ Women. JOURNAL OF LESBIAN STUDIES 2024:1-29. [PMID: 38946155 DOI: 10.1080/10894160.2024.2369434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/02/2024]
Abstract
LGBTQ+ women have long been overlooked in sexual and reproductive health research. However, recent research has established that LGBTQ+ women have unique and specific needs that need to be addressed in order to improve effectiveness of sexual health education and practice with this historically and presently underserved population. Informed by a reproductive justice framework coupled with liberation psychology theory, this review discusses the current state of sexual and reproductive health and technologies among LGBTQ+ women. In particular, we focus on a range of HIV prevention and reproductive technologies and their use and promotion, including the internal condom, abortion, oral contraceptives, dapivirine ring, HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis, intrauterine device, and other less studied options, such as the contraceptive sponge. Grounded in an intersectional framing, this review acknowledges the intersecting systems of oppression that affect multiply marginalized women inequitably and disproportionately. A sociohistorical, critical lens is applied to acknowledge the well-documented racist origins of reproductive health technologies and ongoing coercive practices that have led to medical mistrust among marginalized and stigmatized communities, particularly racialized LGBTQ+ women, women with disabilities, and women who are poor or incarcerated. Moreover, we discuss the urgent need to center LGBTQ+ women in research and clinical care, community-engaged health promotion efforts, affirming non-heteronormative sexual health education, and health policies that prioritize autonomy and dismantle structural barriers for this population. We conclude with recommendations and future directions in this area to remedy entrenched disparities in health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa M Ertl
- Department of Psychology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Meredith R Maroney
- Department of Counseling and School Psychology, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Andréa Becker
- Department of Sociology, Hunter College, New York, NY, USA
| | - Margaret M Paschen-Wolff
- Department of Psychiatry, Division on Substance Use Disorders, New York State Psychiatric Institute, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Amelia Blankenau
- Department of Psychology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Susie Hoffman
- Department of Psychiatry, HIV Center for Clinical and Behavioral Studies at New York State Psychiatric Institute and Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY, USA
| | - Susan Tross
- Department of Psychiatry, Division on Substance Use Disorders, New York State Psychiatric Institute, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, HIV Center for Clinical and Behavioral Studies at New York State Psychiatric Institute and Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
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Tsai MM, Yeb JA, Jackson KE, Gosliner W, Fernald LC, Hamad R. Understanding Multiprogram Take-Up of Safety Net Programs Among California Families. AJPM FOCUS 2024; 3:100216. [PMID: 38638939 PMCID: PMC11024909 DOI: 10.1016/j.focus.2024.100216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/20/2024]
Abstract
Introduction The U.S. safety net, which provides critical aid to households with low income, is composed of a patchwork of separate programs, and many people with low income benefit from accessing <1 program. However, little is known about multiprogram take-up, that is, participation conditioned on eligibility. This study examined individual and multiprogram take-up patterns and sociodemographic factors associated with multiprogram take-up of U.S. safety net programs. Methods The Assessing California Communities' Experiences with Safety Net Supports study interviewed Californians and reviewed their 2019 tax forms between August 2020 and May 2021. Take-up of safety net programs was calculated among eligible participants (n=365), including the Earned Income Tax Credit; Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program; the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children; and Medicaid. Multivariable regressions identified sociodemographic factors associated with take-up of multiple programs. Results Take-up was highest for Medicaid (90.6%) and lowest for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (57.5%). Among people who received benefits from at least 1 other program, take-up ranged from 81.7% to 84.8% for the Earned Income Tax Credit; 54.4%-62.0% for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program; 74.3%-80.1% for Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children; and 89.7%-98.1% for Medicaid. Having a lower income and being younger were associated with concurrent take-up of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children. Among Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children recipients, having higher income, being older, and being primarily English speaking were associated with Earned Income Tax Credit take-up. Conclusions Individual and multiprogram take-up vary between programs and by sociodemographic factors. Findings suggest opportunities to increase take-up of potentially synergistic programs by improving cross-program coordination, data sharing, and targeted recruitment of underenrolled subgroups (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children).
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Affiliation(s)
- Marisa M. Tsai
- Nutrition Policy Institute, Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of California, Oakland, California
- Division of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California
| | - Joseph A. Yeb
- Public Health and Community Medicine, School of Medicine, Tufts University, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Kaitlyn E. Jackson
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Wendi Gosliner
- Nutrition Policy Institute, Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of California, Oakland, California
| | - Lia C.H. Fernald
- Community Health Sciences Division, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California
| | - Rita Hamad
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
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Almohamad M, Dave JM, Calloway EE, Li R, Sharma S. Relationship between Food Security, Nutrition Security, and Diabetes: The Role of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Participation. Curr Dev Nutr 2024; 8:102153. [PMID: 38693968 PMCID: PMC11061707 DOI: 10.1016/j.cdnut.2024.102153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2024] [Revised: 03/24/2024] [Accepted: 03/28/2024] [Indexed: 05/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Inadequate nutrition and poor diet quality are associated with a heightened risk of diabetes. The connection between food insecurity measures and diabetes has been established, with evidence indicating that Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participation contributes to reductions in food insecurity. Recently developed nutrition security measures, defined as the ability to acquire healthful foods to prevent diseases, and their association with diabetes and SNAP participation are not yet understood. Objectives This study aimed to assess the relationship between food security and nutrition security in relation to diabetes overall and by SNAP participation and nutrition security as potential modifiers. Methods Secondary data analysis of cross-sectional pilot study data collected from adults in 5 US states (N = 517). Logistic regression mixed models included moderation analysis and clustering effects by state to address site-level confounding. Results Higher nutrition security scores among adults, after adjusting for confounders, were significantly associated with lower odds of diabetes risk (adjusted odds ratio = 0.59; 95% confidence interval: 0.40, 0.87; P value = 0.008). Statistically significant interaction effect of differences according to SNAP participation was observed for nutrition security (Phomogeneity/interaction = 0.021), adjusting for age, gender, race/ethnicity, education, employment, National School Lunch Program, Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, food pantry use, household with children, survey mode, and food security. The association between food security and diabetes was not statistically significant overall. However, statistically significant interaction effect of differences according to SNAP participation was observed for food security (Phomogeneity/interaction = 0.047). Further, no interaction effect of differences in nutrition security was found between food security and self-reported diabetes/prediabetes (Phomogeneity/interaction = 0.250). Conclusions This study sheds light on the early exploration of the intricate relationship between nutrition security and diabetes. The findings suggest that a higher nutrition security score, after adjusting for confounders, was significantly associated with lower odds of diabetes risk. Notably, there were statistically significant interaction effects in these associations based on SNAP participation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maha Almohamad
- Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics and Environmental Sciences, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) School of Public Health, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Jayna M Dave
- US Department of Agriculture/ Agricultural Research Service Children’s Nutrition Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Eric E Calloway
- Gretchen Swanson Center for Nutrition, Omaha, NE, United States
| | - Ruosha Li
- Department of Biostatistics and Data Science, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) School of Public Health, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Shreela Sharma
- Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics and Environmental Sciences, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) School of Public Health, Houston, TX, United States
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Gosliner W, Ritchie LD. Bold Action Needed for Equitable Access to Nutrition Assistance by All. Am J Public Health 2023; 113:S202-S205. [PMID: 38118095 PMCID: PMC10733885 DOI: 10.2105/ajph.2023.307483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/28/2023] [Indexed: 12/22/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Wendi Gosliner
- Wendi Gosliner and Lorrene D. Ritchie are with the Nutrition Policy Institute, University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources, Oakland, CA
| | - Lorrene D Ritchie
- Wendi Gosliner and Lorrene D. Ritchie are with the Nutrition Policy Institute, University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources, Oakland, CA
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Vandevijvere S, De Pauw R, Djojosoeparto S, Gorasso V, Guariguata L, Løvhaug AL, Mialon M, Van Dam I, von Philipsborn P. Upstream Determinants of Overweight and Obesity in Europe. Curr Obes Rep 2023; 12:417-428. [PMID: 37594616 DOI: 10.1007/s13679-023-00524-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/20/2023] [Indexed: 08/19/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW To review the upstream determinants of overweight and obesity in Europe, including food and built environments, and political, commercial, and socioeconomic determinants. RECENT FINDINGS Overweight and obesity affect 60% of European adults, and one in three children, and are more common in individuals with low compared to high socioeconomic position (SEP). Individuals in low SEP groups are more exposed to unhealthy built and food environments, including higher exposure to unhealthy food marketing. Industries influencing the food system have much economic power, resulting in ignoring or silencing the role of ultra-processed foods and commercial practices in weight gain. Overall, effective policies to address overweight and obesity have been insufficiently implemented by governments. To accelerate implementation, strengthened political commitment is essential. Policies must also focus on the upstream, structural, and systemic drivers of overweight and obesity; be comprehensive; and target socioeconomic inequalities in diets and physical activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefanie Vandevijvere
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Sciensano, J. Wytsmanstraat 14, 1050, Brussels, Belgium.
| | - Robby De Pauw
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Sciensano, J. Wytsmanstraat 14, 1050, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Sanne Djojosoeparto
- Consumption and Healthy Lifestyles Chair Group, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Vanessa Gorasso
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Sciensano, J. Wytsmanstraat 14, 1050, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Leonor Guariguata
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Sciensano, J. Wytsmanstraat 14, 1050, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Anne Lene Løvhaug
- Department of Nursing and Health Promotion, OsloMet-Oslo Metropolitan University, Oslo, Norway
| | | | - Iris Van Dam
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Sciensano, J. Wytsmanstraat 14, 1050, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Peter von Philipsborn
- Pettenkofer School of Public Health, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
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Men F, Fafard St-Germain AA, Ross K, Remtulla R, Tarasuk V. Effect of Canada Child Benefit on Food Insecurity: A Propensity Score-Matched Analysis. Am J Prev Med 2023; 64:844-852. [PMID: 36805370 DOI: 10.1016/j.amepre.2023.01.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2022] [Revised: 01/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2023] [Indexed: 02/21/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Food insecurity-the inadequate access to food due to financial constraints-affects 1 in 6 households in Canada, with serious health implications. Family benefit programs supplementing income have shown potential in mitigating the risk of food insecurity, but there is little understanding of their protective effects. The authors aimed to estimate the impacts of the additional Canada Child Benefit provided to families with children aged <6 years on household food insecurity. METHODS The authors sampled 28,435 households receiving Canada Child Benefit with children aged <8 years from the Canadian Income Survey 2018-2020 fielded in 2019-2021 and analyzed in 2022. Households without children aged <6 years were 1:1 propensity-score matched to those with children aged <6 years, who received up to $1,068 in additional Canada Child Benefit per child annually. The authors compared the 2 groups' 12-month food insecurity likelihood after matching. Subsample analyses were performed by household income, housing tenure, and household type. RESULTS Receipt of the additional Canada Child Benefit ($724 on average) was associated with 2.89 (95% CI=1.35, 4.42) percentage points lower probability of experiencing food insecurity among recipients with children aged <6 years (from 24.30% to 21.42%). The association was similar across socioeconomic subgroups and significant among all but high-income earners and mortgage-free homeowners. CONCLUSIONS The authors found plausibly causal evidence that the more generous Canada Child Benefit for Canadian families with young children reduces their probability of food insecurity. Increasing benefits for economically disadvantaged households, characterized by low incomes, single parenthood, and renting (versus owning), may improve the program's efficiency and equity in supporting families' food security.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fei Men
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine Engineering, Ministry of Education, Department of Health Insurance, School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing, China; Department of Nutritional Sciences, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Consumer Sciences, The College of Human Environmental Sciences, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
| | | | - Kent Ross
- Department of Community Health & Epidemiology, Dalhousie University, Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada
| | - Ronaz Remtulla
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Valerie Tarasuk
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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The California Nutrition Incentive Program: Participants’ Perceptions and Associations with Produce Purchases, Consumption, and Food Security. Nutrients 2022; 14:nu14132699. [PMID: 35807882 PMCID: PMC9268255 DOI: 10.3390/nu14132699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2022] [Accepted: 06/24/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
We examined the associations of a Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) point-of-purchase financial incentive program at farmers’ markets with produce purchase, consumption, and food security outcomes. We conducted cross-sectional, interviewer-administered intercept surveys with 325 adult SNAP participants at six incentive programs, five comparison farmers’ markets, and nine comparison supermarkets in California in the summer of 2018. The program provided dollar-for-dollar point-of-purchase incentives with $10 or $20 maximum at participating farmers’ markets. We measured produce consumption by an NCI screener; food security by the USDA 6-item screener; and program satisfaction with open-ended questions asked of a subsample. The quantitative analysis involved multilevel linear and logistic regression, adjusted for covariates. Qualitative data were coded and analyzed thematically. Shoppers at farmers’ markets offering $20 incentives had significantly higher odds of purchasing most of their produce at farmers’ markets than shoppers at $10 incentive (3.1, CI: 1.1, 8.7) or comparison markets (8.1, CI 2.2, 29.7). Incentives were not associated with quantitatively measured produce consumption. Each additional incentive dollar was associated with reduced odds of food insecurity (0.987, CI 0.976, 0.999). Participants appreciated the program; supermarket shoppers lacked awareness. Point-of-purchase incentives are appreciated and underutilized. Further understanding of optimal program design for produce consumption and food security impact is needed.
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The relationship between diet quality and the severity of household food insecurity in Canada. Public Health Nutr 2022; 25:1013-1026. [PMID: 34551845 PMCID: PMC9991759 DOI: 10.1017/s1368980021004031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To examine the relationship between the dietary quality of Canadian children and adults and household food insecurity status. DESIGN Dietary intake was assessed with one 24-h recall. Households were classified as food secure or marginally, moderately or severely food insecure based on their responses to the Household Food Security Survey Module. We applied multivariable analyses of variance to determine whether % energy from ultra-processed foods, fruit and vegetable intake, Healthy Eating Index (HEI) scores, macronutrient composition and micronutrient intakes per 1000 kcal differed by food insecurity status after accounting for income, education and region. Analyses were run separately for children 1-8 years and 9-18 years and men and women 19-64 years of age. SETTING Ten provinces in Canada. PARTICIPANTS Respondents to the 2015 Canadian Community Health Survey-Nutrition, aged 1-64 years, with complete food insecurity data and non-zero energy intakes, N 15 909. RESULTS Among adults and children, % energy from ultra-processed foods was strongly related to severity of food insecurity, but no significant trend was observed for fruit and vegetable intake or HEI score. Carbohydrate, total sugar, fat and saturated fat intake/1000 kcal did not differ by food insecurity status, but there was a significant negative trend in protein/1000 kcal among older children, a positive trend in Na/1000 kcal among younger children and inverse associations between food insecurity severity and several micronutrients/1000 kcal among adults and older children. CONCLUSIONS With more severe household food insecurity, ultra-processed food consumption was higher, and diet quality was generally lower among both adults and children.
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Chang R, Javed Z, Taha M, Yahya T, Valero-Elizondo J, Brandt EJ, Cainzos-Achirica M, Mahajan S, Ali HJ, Nasir K. Food insecurity and cardiovascular disease: Current trends and future directions. Am J Prev Cardiol 2022; 9:100303. [PMID: 34988538 PMCID: PMC8702994 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajpc.2021.100303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2021] [Revised: 11/20/2021] [Accepted: 12/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Food insecurity (FI) - a state of limited access to nutritionally adequate food - is notably more prominent among patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD) than the general population. Current research suggests that FI increases the risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality through various behavioral and biological pathways. Importantly, FI is more prevalent among low-income households and disproportionately affects households with children, particularly those led by single mothers. These disparities necessitate solutions specifically geared towards helping these high-risk subgroups, who also experience increased risk of CVD associated with FI. Further, individuals with CVD may experience increased risk of FI due to the financial burden imposed by CVD care. While participation in federal aid programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children has been associated with cardiovascular health benefits, residual FI and lower dietary quality among many families suggest a need for better outreach and expanded public assistance programs. Healthcare systems and community organizations can play a vital role in screening individuals for FI and connecting them with food and educational resources. While further research is needed to evaluate sociodemographic differences in the FI-CVD relationship, interventions at the policy, health system, and community levels can help address both the burden of FI and its impacts on cardiovascular health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan Chang
- Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Division of Health Equity and Disparities Research, Center for Outcomes Research, Houston Methodist, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Zulqarnain Javed
- Division of Health Equity and Disparities Research, Center for Outcomes Research, Houston Methodist, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Mohamad Taha
- Division of Cardiovascular Prevention and Wellness, Department of Cardiology, Houston Methodist DeBakey Heart & Vascular Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Tamer Yahya
- Division of Health Equity and Disparities Research, Center for Outcomes Research, Houston Methodist, Houston, TX, USA
- Division of Cardiovascular Prevention and Wellness, Department of Cardiology, Houston Methodist DeBakey Heart & Vascular Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Javier Valero-Elizondo
- Division of Health Equity and Disparities Research, Center for Outcomes Research, Houston Methodist, Houston, TX, USA
- Division of Cardiovascular Prevention and Wellness, Department of Cardiology, Houston Methodist DeBakey Heart & Vascular Center, Houston, TX, USA
- Center for Cardiovascular Computational Health & Precision Medicine (C3-PH), USA
| | - Eric J. Brandt
- Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Miguel Cainzos-Achirica
- Division of Health Equity and Disparities Research, Center for Outcomes Research, Houston Methodist, Houston, TX, USA
- Division of Cardiovascular Prevention and Wellness, Department of Cardiology, Houston Methodist DeBakey Heart & Vascular Center, Houston, TX, USA
- Center for Cardiovascular Computational Health & Precision Medicine (C3-PH), USA
- Ciccarone Center for the Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease, Division of Cardiology, Johns Hopkins Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Shiwani Mahajan
- Department of Internal Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Hyeon-Ju Ali
- Department of Cardiology, Houston Methodist DeBakey Heart & Vascular Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Khurram Nasir
- Division of Health Equity and Disparities Research, Center for Outcomes Research, Houston Methodist, Houston, TX, USA
- Division of Cardiovascular Prevention and Wellness, Department of Cardiology, Houston Methodist DeBakey Heart & Vascular Center, Houston, TX, USA
- Center for Cardiovascular Computational Health & Precision Medicine (C3-PH), USA
- Ciccarone Center for the Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease, Division of Cardiology, Johns Hopkins Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
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Reeves A, Loopstra R, Tarasuk V. Family policy and food insecurity: an observational analysis in 142 countries. Lancet Planet Health 2021; 5:e506-e513. [PMID: 34390669 PMCID: PMC8374132 DOI: 10.1016/s2542-5196(21)00151-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2020] [Revised: 05/18/2021] [Accepted: 05/26/2021] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Levels of child malnutrition and hunger across the world have decreased substantially over the past century, and this has had an important role in reducing mortality and improving health. However, progress has stalled. We examined whether family policies (eg, cash transfers from governments that aim to support households with children) are associated with reduced food insecurity. METHODS In this observational analysis, we used a dataset of individual-level data that captured experience-based measures of food insecurity and sociodemographic characteristics collected by the Gallup World Poll in 142 countries for 2014-17. We then combined this dataset with indicators of the type and generosity of family policies in these countries, taken from the University of California, Los Angeles' World Policy Analysis Center. We used multilevel regression models to examine the association between the presence of family policies for households with children and the probability of reporting moderate or severe food insecurity or severe food insecurity (moderate or severe food insecurity was defined as a "yes" response to at least four of eight questions on the Gallup Food Insecurity Experience Scale, and severe food insecurity was defined as a "yes" response to at least seven questions). We controlled for multiple covariates, including individual-level measures of social position and country-level measures, such as gross domestic product. We further examined whether this association varied by household income level. FINDINGS Using data from 503 713 households, we found that, on average, moderate or severe food insecurity is 4·09 percentage points (95% CI 3·50-4·68) higher in households with at least one child younger than 15 years than in households with no children and severe food insecurity is 2·20 percentage points (1·76-2·63) higher. However, the additional risk of food insecurity among households with children is lower in countries that provide financial support (either means-tested or universal) for families than for countries with little or no financial assistance. These policies not only reduce food insecurity on average, but they also reduce inequalities in food insecurity by benefiting the poorest households most. INTERPRETATION In some countries, family policies have been cut back in the past decade and such retrenchment might expose low-income households to increased risk of food insecurity. By increasing investment in family policies, progress towards Sustainable Development Goal 2, zero hunger, might be accelerated and, in turn, improve health for all. FUNDING Wellcome Trust.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron Reeves
- Department of Social Policy and Intervention, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK; International Inequalities Institute, London School of Economics and Political Science, London, UK.
| | - Rachel Loopstra
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Valerie Tarasuk
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
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Men F, Tarasuk V. Food Insecurity amid the COVID-19 Pandemic: Food Charity, Government Assistance, and Employment. CANADIAN PUBLIC POLICY. ANALYSE DE POLITIQUES 2021; 47:202-230. [PMID: 36039314 PMCID: PMC9395161 DOI: 10.3138/cpp.2021-001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
To mitigate the effects of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the federal government has implemented several financial assistance programs, including unprecedented funding to food charities. Using the Canadian Perspectives Survey Series 2, we examine the demographic, employment, and behavioural characteristics associated with food insecurity in April-May 2020. We find that one-quarter of job-insecure individuals experienced food insecurity that was strongly associated with pandemic-related disruptions to employment income, major financial hardship, and use of food charity, yet the vast majority of food-insecure households did not report receiving any charitable food assistance. Increased financial support for low-income households would reduce food insecurity and mitigate negative repercussions of the pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fei Men
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and Department of Consumer Sciences, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA
| | - Valerie Tarasuk
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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12
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Raifman J, Bor J, Venkataramani A. Association Between Receipt of Unemployment Insurance and Food Insecurity Among People Who Lost Employment During the COVID-19 Pandemic in the United States. JAMA Netw Open 2021; 4:e2035884. [PMID: 33512519 PMCID: PMC7846943 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.35884] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2020] [Accepted: 12/11/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Importance More than 50 million US residents have lost work during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, and food insecurity has increased. Objective To evaluate the association between receipt of unemployment insurance, including a $600/wk federal supplement between April and July, and food insecurity among people who lost their jobs during the COVID-19 pandemic. Design, Setting, and Participants This cohort study used difference-in-differences analysis of longitudinal data from a nationally representative sample of US adults residing in low- and middle-income households (ie, <$75 000 annual income) who lost work during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data were from 15 waves of the Understanding Coronavirus in America study (conducted April 1 to November 11, 2020). Exposure Receipt of unemployment insurance benefits. Main Outcomes and Measures Food insecurity and eating less due to financial constraints, assessed every 2 weeks by self-report. Results Of 2319 adults living in households earning less than $75 000 annually and employed in February 2020, 1119 (48.3%) experienced unemployment during the COVID-19 pandemic and made up our main sample (588 [53.6%] White individuals; mean [SD] age 45 [15] years; 732 [65.4%] women). Of those who lost employment, 415 (37.1%) reported food insecurity and 437 (39.1%) reported eating less due to financial constraints in 1 or more waves of the study. Among people who lost work, receipt of unemployment insurance was associated with a 4.3 (95% CI, 1.8-6.9) percentage point decrease in food insecurity (a 35.0% relative reduction) and a 5.7 (95% CI, 3.0-8.4) percentage point decrease in eating less due to financial constraints (a 47.8% relative reduction). Decreases in food insecurity were larger with the $600/wk supplement and for individuals who were receiving larger amounts of unemployment insurance. Conclusions and Relevance In this US national cohort study, receiving unemployment insurance was associated with large reductions in food insecurity among people who lost employment during the COVID-19 pandemic. The $600/wk federal supplement and larger amounts of unemployment insurance were associated with larger reductions in food insecurity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Raifman
- Department of Health Law, Policy, and Management, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Jacob Bor
- Department of Global Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Atheendar Venkataramani
- Leonard Davidson Institute for Health Economics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
- Medical Ethics and Health Policy, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
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Tarasuk V, Gundersen C, Wang X, Roth DE, Urquia ML. Maternal Food Insecurity is Positively Associated with Postpartum Mental Disorders in Ontario, Canada. J Nutr 2020; 150:3033-3040. [PMID: 32856046 PMCID: PMC7675029 DOI: 10.1093/jn/nxaa240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2020] [Revised: 05/28/2020] [Accepted: 07/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Household food insecurity has been associated with pregnancy complications and poorer birth outcomes in the United States and with maternal mental disorders in the United Kingdom, but there has been little investigation of the effects of food insecurity during this life stage in Canada. OBJECTIVES Our objective was to examine the relationship between the food insecurity status of women during pregnancy and maternal and birth outcomes and health in infancy in Canada. METHODS We drew on data from 1998 women in Ontario, Canada, whose food insecurity was assessed using the Household Food Security Survey Module on the Canadian Community Health Survey, cycles 2005 to 2011-2012. These records were linked to multiple health administrative databases to identify indications of adverse health outcomes during pregnancy, at birth, and during children's first year of life. We included women who gave birth between 9 months prior and 6 months after their interview date, and for whom infant outcome data were available. Multivariable Poisson regression models were used to compare outcomes by maternal food security status, expressed as adjusted relative risks (aRR) with 95% CIs. RESULTS While pregnant, 5.6% of women were marginally food insecure and 10.0% were moderately or severely food insecure. Food insecurity was unrelated to pregnancy complications and adverse birth outcomes, but 26.8% of women with moderate or severe food insecurity had treatment for postpartum mental disorders in the 6-month postpartum period, compared to 13.9% of food-secure women (aRR, 1.86; 95% CI, 1.40-2.46). Children born to food-insecure mothers were at elevated risk of being treated in an emergency department in the first year of life (aRR, 1.18; 95% CI, 1.01-1.38). CONCLUSIONS Maternal food insecurity during pregnancy in Ontario, Canada, is associated with postpartum mental disorders and a greater likelihood of infants being treated in an emergency department.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valerie Tarasuk
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Craig Gundersen
- Department of Agricultural and Consumer Economics, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Xuesong Wang
- Institute for Clinical and Evaluative Sciences Central, Toronto, Canada
| | - Daniel E Roth
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
- The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
| | - Marcelo L Urquia
- Institute for Clinical and Evaluative Sciences Central, Toronto, Canada
- Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, University of Manitoba, Manitoba, Canada
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
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Adverse childhood experiences and household food insecurity among children aged 0–5 years in the USA. Public Health Nutr 2020; 24:2123-2131. [DOI: 10.1017/s1368980020002761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Objective:
Although studies have examined the association between adverse childhood experiences (ACE) and health and mental health outcomes, few studies have investigated the association between ACE and household food insecurity among children aged 0–5 years in the USA. The objective of this study is to investigate the association between ACE and household food insecurity among children aged 0–5 years.
Design:
The data used in this study came from the 2016–2017 National Survey of Children’s Health. Data were analysed using multinomial logistic regression with household food insecurity as the outcome variable.
Setting:
United States.
Participants:
An analytic sample of 17 543 children aged 0–5 years (51·4% boys).
Results:
Of the 17 543 respondents, 83·7% experienced no childhood adversity. About one in twenty (4·8%) children experienced moderate-to-severe food insecurity. Controlling for other factors, children with one adverse childhood experience had 1·43 times the risk of mild food insecurity (95 % CI 1·25, 1·63) and 2·33 times the risk of moderate-to-severe food insecurity (95 % CI 1·84, 2·95). The risk of mild food insecurity among children with two or more ACE was 1·5 times higher (95 % CI 1·24, 1·81) and that of moderate-to-severe food insecurity was 3·96 times higher (95 % CI 3·01, 5·20), when compared with children with no childhood adversity.
Conclusion:
Given the critical period of development during the first few years of life, preventing ACE and food insecurity and early intervention in cases of adversity exposure is crucial to mitigate their negative impact on child development.
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