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- Title
Food insecurity and household eating patterns among vulnerable American-Indian families: associations with caregiver and food consumption characteristics.
- Authors
Mullany, Britta; Neault, Nicole; Tsingine, Danielle; Powers, Julia; Lovato, Ventura; Clitso, Lena; Massey, Sheree; Talgo, Adrienne; Speakman, Kristen; Barlow, Allison
- Abstract
ObjectiveTo identify factors associated with food insecurity and household eating patterns among American-Indian families with young children.DesignCross-sectional survey among households with young children that were receiving emergency food services. We collected information on food insecurity levels, household eating patterns, experiences with commercial and community food sources and demographics, and used multivariate regression techniques to examine associations among these variables.SettingFour Southwestern American-Indian reservation communities.SubjectsA total of 425 parents/caregivers of young children completed the survey.ResultsTwenty-nine per cent of children and 45 % of adults from households participating in the survey were classified as ‘food insecure’. Larger household size was associated with increased food insecurity and worse eating patterns. Older respondents were more likely than younger respondents to have children with food insecurity (relative risk = 2·19, P < 0·001) and less likely to have healthy foods available at home (relative risk = 0·45, P < 0·01). Consumption of food from food banks, gas station/convenience stores or fast-food restaurants was not associated with food insecurity levels. Respondents with transportation barriers were 1·46 times more likely to be adult food insecure than respondents without transportation barriers (P < 0·001). High food costs were significantly associated with greater likelihoods of adult (relative risk = 1·47, P < 0·001) and child (relative risk = 1·65, P < 0·001) food insecurity.ConclusionsInterventions for American-Indian communities must address challenges such as expense and limited transportation to accessing healthy food. Results indicate a need for services targeted to older caregivers and larger households. Implications for innovative approaches to promoting nutrition among American-Indian communities, including mobile groceries and community gardening programmes, are discussed.
- Subjects
FOOD security; HOUSEHOLDS; FOOD habits; AMERICANS; INDIGENOUS peoples of the Americas; FOOD consumption; COMMUNITY food services
- Publication
Public Health Nutrition, 2013, Vol 16, Issue 4, p752
- ISSN
1368-9800
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1017/S136898001200300X