What is known about the prevalence of household food insecurity in Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic: a systematic review
IntroductionHousehold food insecurity (HFI) is a persistent public health issue in Canada that may have disproportionately affected certain subgroups of the population during the COVID-19 pandemic. The purpose of this systematic review is to report on the prevalence of HFI in the C...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Public Health Agency of Canada
2022-03-01
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| Series: | Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention in Canada |
| Online Access: | https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/reports-publications/health-promotion-chronic-disease-prevention-canada-research-policy-practice/vol-42-no-5-2022/prevalence-household-food-insecurity-canada-covid-19-pandemic-systematic-review.html |
| _version_ | 1818208157290201088 |
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| author | Leanne Idzerda Geneviève Gariépy Tricia Corrin Valerie Tarasuk Lynn McIntyre Sarah Neil-Sztramko Maureen Dobbins Geneviève Gariépy Alejandra Jaramillo Garcia |
| author_facet | Leanne Idzerda Geneviève Gariépy Tricia Corrin Valerie Tarasuk Lynn McIntyre Sarah Neil-Sztramko Maureen Dobbins Geneviève Gariépy Alejandra Jaramillo Garcia |
| author_sort | Leanne Idzerda |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
IntroductionHousehold food insecurity (HFI) is a persistent public health issue in Canada that may have disproportionately affected certain subgroups of the population during the COVID-19 pandemic. The purpose of this systematic review is to report on the prevalence of HFI in the Canadian general population and in subpopulations after the declaration of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020.
MethodsSixteen databases were searched from 1 March 2020 to 5 May 2021. Abstract and full-text screening was conducted by one reviewer and the inclusions verified by a second reviewer. Only studies that reported on the prevalence of HFI in Canadian households were included. Data extraction, risk of bias and certainty of the evidence assessments were conducted by two reviewers.
ResultsOf 8986 studies identified in the search, four studies, three of which collected data in April and May 2020, were included. The evidence concerning the prevalence of HFI during the COVID-19 pandemic is very uncertain. The prevalence of HFI (marginal to severe) ranged from 14% to 17% in the general population. Working-age populations aged 18 to 44 years had higher HFI (range: 18%–23%) than adults aged 60+ years (5%–11%). Some of the highest HFI prevalence was observed among households with children (range: 19%–22%), those who had lost their jobs or stopped working due to COVID-19 (24%–39%) and those with job insecurity (26%).
ConclusionThe evidence suggests that the COVID-19 pandemic may have slightly increased total household food insecurity in Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially in populations that were already vulnerable to HFI. There is a need to continue to monitor HFI in Canada. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-12T04:40:21Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-1a3dd8773d0e455096ea24759ce13a22 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2368-738X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-12T04:40:21Z |
| publishDate | 2022-03-01 |
| publisher | Public Health Agency of Canada |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention in Canada |
| spelling | doaj.art-1a3dd8773d0e455096ea24759ce13a222022-12-22T00:37:50ZengPublic Health Agency of CanadaHealth Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention in Canada2368-738X2022-03-0142517718710.24095/hpcdp.42.5.01What is known about the prevalence of household food insecurity in Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic: a systematic reviewLeanne Idzerda0Geneviève Gariépy1Tricia Corrin2Valerie Tarasuk3Lynn McIntyre4Sarah Neil-Sztramko5Maureen Dobbins6Geneviève Gariépy7Alejandra Jaramillo Garcia8Public Health Agency of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, CanadaPublic Health Agency of Canada, Montréal, Quebec, CanadaPublic Health Agency of Canada, Guelph, Ontario, CanadaDepartment of Nutritional Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, CanadaCumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, CanadaDepartment of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, CanadaNational Collaborating Centre for Methods and Tools, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, CanadaNational Collaborating Centre for Methods and Tools, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, CanadaPublic Health Agency of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada IntroductionHousehold food insecurity (HFI) is a persistent public health issue in Canada that may have disproportionately affected certain subgroups of the population during the COVID-19 pandemic. The purpose of this systematic review is to report on the prevalence of HFI in the Canadian general population and in subpopulations after the declaration of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020. MethodsSixteen databases were searched from 1 March 2020 to 5 May 2021. Abstract and full-text screening was conducted by one reviewer and the inclusions verified by a second reviewer. Only studies that reported on the prevalence of HFI in Canadian households were included. Data extraction, risk of bias and certainty of the evidence assessments were conducted by two reviewers. ResultsOf 8986 studies identified in the search, four studies, three of which collected data in April and May 2020, were included. The evidence concerning the prevalence of HFI during the COVID-19 pandemic is very uncertain. The prevalence of HFI (marginal to severe) ranged from 14% to 17% in the general population. Working-age populations aged 18 to 44 years had higher HFI (range: 18%–23%) than adults aged 60+ years (5%–11%). Some of the highest HFI prevalence was observed among households with children (range: 19%–22%), those who had lost their jobs or stopped working due to COVID-19 (24%–39%) and those with job insecurity (26%). ConclusionThe evidence suggests that the COVID-19 pandemic may have slightly increased total household food insecurity in Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially in populations that were already vulnerable to HFI. There is a need to continue to monitor HFI in Canada.https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/reports-publications/health-promotion-chronic-disease-prevention-canada-research-policy-practice/vol-42-no-5-2022/prevalence-household-food-insecurity-canada-covid-19-pandemic-systematic-review.html |
| spellingShingle | Leanne Idzerda Geneviève Gariépy Tricia Corrin Valerie Tarasuk Lynn McIntyre Sarah Neil-Sztramko Maureen Dobbins Geneviève Gariépy Alejandra Jaramillo Garcia What is known about the prevalence of household food insecurity in Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic: a systematic review Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention in Canada |
| title | What is known about the prevalence of household food insecurity in Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic: a systematic review |
| title_full | What is known about the prevalence of household food insecurity in Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic: a systematic review |
| title_fullStr | What is known about the prevalence of household food insecurity in Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic: a systematic review |
| title_full_unstemmed | What is known about the prevalence of household food insecurity in Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic: a systematic review |
| title_short | What is known about the prevalence of household food insecurity in Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic: a systematic review |
| title_sort | what is known about the prevalence of household food insecurity in canada during the covid 19 pandemic a systematic review |
| url | https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/reports-publications/health-promotion-chronic-disease-prevention-canada-research-policy-practice/vol-42-no-5-2022/prevalence-household-food-insecurity-canada-covid-19-pandemic-systematic-review.html |
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