The Impact of Food Stamp Program Participation on Household Food Insecurity

2010 ◽  
Vol 92 (5) ◽  
pp. 1379-1391 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elton Mykerezi ◽  
Bradford Mills
FACETS ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 969-983 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ghose Bishwajit ◽  
Sanni Yaya

Introduction: Food insecurity at the individual level has been shown to be associated with the adoption of risky behavior and poor healthcare-seeking behavior. However, the impact of household food insecurity (HFI) on the utilization of maternal healthcare services (MHS) remains unexplored. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether or not household food insecurity was associated with non/inadequate utilization of MHS. Methods: Participants consisted of 3562 mothers aged between 15 and 49 years and with at least one child. The outcome variable was the utilization of MHS, e.g., institutional delivery, attendance ante-, and pre-natal visits. The explanatory variables included various sociodemographic factors (e.g., age, residence, education, wealth) apart from HFI. HFI was measured using the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS). Result: The prevalence of non- and under-utilization of MHS was 5.3 and 36.5, respectively. In the multivariate analysis, HFI, wealth index, and educational level were independently associated with MHS status. The odds of non- and under-utilization of MHS were 3.467 (CI = 1.058–11.354) and 4.104 (CI = 1.794–9.388) times higher, respectively, among women from households reporting severe food insecurity. Conclusion: Severe HFI was significantly associated with both under- and non-utilization of MHS. Interventions programs that address HFI and the empowerment of women can potentially contribute to an increased utilization of MHS.


2016 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 620-629 ◽  
Author(s):  
Máximo Rossi ◽  
Zuleika Ferre ◽  
María Rosa Curutchet ◽  
Ana Giménez ◽  
Gastón Ares

AbstractObjectiveTo determine the factor structure of the Latin American & Caribbean Household Food Security Scale (ELCSA) and to study the influence of sociodemographic characteristics on each of the identified dimensions in Montevideo, Uruguay.DesignCross-sectional survey with a representative sample of urban households. Household food insecurity was measured using the ELCSA. The percentage of respondents who gave affirmative responses for each of the items of the ELCSA was determined. Exploratory factor analysis was carried out to determine the ELCSA’s factor structure. A probit model was used to determine the impact of some individual and household sociodemographic characteristics on the identified dimensions of food insecurity.SettingMetropolitan area centred on Montevideo, the capital city of Uruguay, April–September 2014.SubjectsAdults aged between 18 and 93 years (n 742).ResultsThe percentage of affirmative responses to the items of the ELCSA ranged from 4·4 to 31·7 %. Two factors were identified in the exploratory factor analysis performed on data from households without children under 18 years old, whereas three factors were identified for households with children. The identified factors were associated with different severity levels of food insecurity. Likelihood of experiencing different levels of food insecurity was affected by individual characteristics of the respondent as well as characteristics of the household.ConclusionsThe influence of sociodemographic variables varied among the ELCSA dimensions. Household income had the largest influence on all dimensions, which indicates a strong relationship between income and food insecurity.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-24
Author(s):  
Karim Karbin ◽  
Fatemeh Khorramrouz ◽  
Ehsan Mosa Farkhani ◽  
Seyyed Reza Sobhani ◽  
Negin Mosalmanzadeh ◽  
...  

Abstract Objective: To investigate the impact of household food insecurity during the third trimester of pregnancy on the growth indicators of infants aged less than six months. Design: Retrospective longitudinal study. Setting: 137 healthcare centres (15 cities) in Khorasan Razavi province, Iran. Data were extracted from the Sina Electronic Health Record System (SinaEHR®). Participants: This study was conducted on 2,481 mother and infant dyads during November 2016-March 2019. The household food insecurity access scale (HFIAS; nine-item version) was used to measure food insecurity in the third trimester of pregnancy. Women who delivered singleton infants were included in the study, and anthropometric indices of infants were measured throughout the first sixth months of life. Results: Approximately 67% of the participants were food-secure, while 33% had varying degrees of food insecurity. The children born to the mothers in the food-insecure households were respectively 2.01, 3.03, and 3.83 times more likely to be stunted at birth (95% CI: 1.17-3.46), four months (95% CI: 1.21-7.61), and six months of age (95% CI: 1.37-10.68) compared to their counterparts in the food-secure households. However, there were no significant differences in mean birthweight, birth height, and head circumference at birth between the two groups. Conclusions: Household food insecurity during pregnancy is a risk factor for stunting in infants aged less than six months. Therefore, national nutrition programs could considerably support women in food-insecure households during and before pregnancy.


2017 ◽  
Vol 28 (04) ◽  
pp. 397-407 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Tirfessa ◽  
C. Lund ◽  
G. Medhin ◽  
Y. Hailemichael ◽  
A. Fekadu ◽  
...  

Aim.In low-income African countries, ensuring food security for all segments of the population is a high priority. Mental illness is associated consistently with poverty, but there is little evidence regarding the association with food insecurity. The aim of this study was to compare the levels of food insecurity in people with severe mental disorders (SMD) with the general population in a rural African setting with a high burden of food insecurity.Method.Households of 292 community-ascertained people with a specialist-confirmed diagnosis of SMD (including schizophrenia and bipolar disorder) were compared with 284 households without a person with SMD in a rural district in south Ethiopia. At the time of the study, no mental health services were available within the district. Food insecurity was measured using a validated version of the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale. Disability was measured using the World Health Organisation Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0.Result.Severe household food insecurity was reported by 32.5% of people with SMD and 15.9% of respondents from comparison households: adjusted odds ratio 2.82 (95% confidence interval 1.62 to 4.91). Higher annual income was associated independently with lower odds of severe food insecurity. When total disability scores were added into the model, the association between SMD and food insecurity became non-significant, indicating a possible mediating role of disability.Conclusion.Efforts to alleviate food insecurity need to target people with SMD as a vulnerable group. Addressing the disabling effects of SMD would also be expected to reduce food insecurity. Access to mental health care integrated into primary care is being expanded in this district as part of the Programme for Improving Mental health carE (PRIME). The impact of treatment on disability and food insecurity will be evaluated.


2019 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 756-767 ◽  
Author(s):  
Poliana A Palmeira ◽  
Rosana Salles-Costa ◽  
Rafael Pérez-Escamilla

AbstractObjective:Food insecurity (FI) is a challenge to policy makers worldwide, who need to understand which polices and programmes are effective at overcoming FI. The present study aimed to examine the impact of family income and conditional cash transfers on changes in household FI status in a highly vulnerable municipality in Northeast Brazil.Design:A population-based longitudinal cohort study among families in a municipality in the semi-arid area in Northeast Brazil (2011 and 2014). FI was estimated with the Brazilian Household Food Insecurity Measurement Scale (EBIA). The effects of family income and cash transfer on changes in FI were estimated using logistic regression models and the population-attributable risk fraction.Setting:Households in Cuité, Paraíba, Brazil.Participants:Household respondents interviewed in 2011 (n 358) and 2014 (n 326).Results:There was a reduction in FI prevalence of 17·5 % across time; 24·5 % of families who were food insecure in 2011 became food secure in 2014. After adjustment, families that did not experience an increase in their total household income or a reduction in the cash transfer amount were at increased risk of persistent FI across time. If the cash transfer programme had not been in place, about 10 % of the families that switched from food insecure to food secure across time would have remained in FI instead.Conclusions:The decrease of FI occurred in an area of extreme climatic and social vulnerability. These changes were more related to the cash transfer than the increase in family income over time.


2008 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. 1248-1255 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amy L Webb ◽  
Andrew Schiff ◽  
Douglas Currivan ◽  
Eduardo Villamor

AbstractObjectiveFood-insecure populations employ multiple strategies to ensure adequate household food supplies. These strategies may increase the risk of overweight and obesity. However, existing literature reports conflicting associations between these strategies and BMI. The objective of the present study was to examine whether food insecurity and strategies for managing food insecurity are associated with BMI in adults.Design, setting and subjectsIn 2005, RTI International and Project Bread conducted a representative survey of 435 adult residents of low-income census tracts in Massachusetts. Food insecurity was assessed using the US Department of Agriculture’s eighteen-item Household Food Security Module.ResultsThe prevalence of overweight and obesity was 51 % and 25 %, respectively. After adjusting for age, sex, sociodemographic characteristics and food insecurity, both participation in the Food Stamp Program (FSP) and participation in any federal nutrition programme 12 months prior to the survey were each associated with an approximate 3·0 kg/m2higher adult BMI. In the subset of current FSP participants (n77), participation for ≥6 months was associated with an 11·3 kg/m2lower BMI compared with participation for <6 months. Respondents who consumed fast foods in the previous month had a mean BMI that was 2·4 kg/m2higher than those who did not. Food insecurity was not associated with BMI after adjustment for sociodemographic characteristics and FSP participation.ConclusionsParticipation in federal nutrition programmes and consumption of fast food were each associated with higher adult BMI independent of food insecurity and other sociodemographic factors. However, prolonged participation in the FSP was associated with lower BMI.


2018 ◽  
Vol 120 (2) ◽  
pp. 468-482 ◽  
Author(s):  
Iddrisu Yahaya ◽  
Krishna P. Pokharel ◽  
Abdul-Fatahi Alidu ◽  
Fred Amofa Yamoah

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to understand the impact of participation in sustainable agricultural intensification practices (SAIPs) on household food security status in Northwestern Ghana. Design/methodology/approach The study utilised the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS) indicator for the measurement of food access data from 168 households in ten communities from the Northwestern region of Ghana for the analyses. Households were categorised into participating households (treatment) and non-participating households (control). The endogenous treatment effects model was employed to evaluate the impact of participation in SAIPs training on food insecurity access scale. Findings The results show that participation in SAIPs training lowers, on average, the household food insecurity access by 2.95 points, approximately an 11 per cent reduction in HFIAS score. Other significant factors found to influence household food insecurity access scale are age of household head, experience in farming, total acres owned by household, income level of the household and occupation of the head of the household. Research limitations/implications The training programme of participation in SAIPs has massive implications for food security, rural economy and farmers’ livelihoods. However, due to the unique conditions prevailing in Northwestern Ghana, the findings of this research are limited in terms of their generalisability. Future research direction in the area of SAIPs trainings and impact study replications in all qualifying rural food production areas in Ghana, which are susceptible to household food insecurity, will provide a national picture of the efficacy of SAIPs trainings on household food insecurity. Practical implications A proven means to decrease natural resource degradation, increase crops yields, and increase subsistence farmers’ income, and food security is an important intervention to resolve the seasonal food shortage, which last for five months in a typical year for agro-food-dependent farming communities in Northwestern Ghana. Social implications Ensuring household food security improvement and environmental sustainability will help improve living standards of food producers and reduce the adverse social challenges associated with food insecure communities such as health problems due to food deficiencies, social inequalities, environmental pollution and natural resource degradation in Northwestern Ghana. Originality/value The contribution of this paper is the novel thought and approach to examine the impact of the SAIPs trainings on household food security in Northwestern Ghana using the household food insecurity access scale indicator. The study also examined the factors that affect household food security using the endogenous treatment model, which also evaluates the impact of the training programme on the outcome variable.


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