Food Security of the Elderly during COVID-19 Pandemic
Background: COVID-19 ushered in a new era of devastating economic and social conditions and sustainable food chains around the world. One of the most vulnerable groups in this situation was the elderly. This study aims to investigate the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on food security of the...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences and Health Services
2023-08-01
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| Series: | Journal of Nutrition and Food Security |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://jnfs.ssu.ac.ir/article-1-556-en.pdf |
| _version_ | 1827875677222731776 |
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| author | Sheida Lafz Zahra Amini |
| author_facet | Sheida Lafz Zahra Amini |
| author_sort | Sheida Lafz |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: COVID-19 ushered in a new era of devastating economic and social conditions and sustainable food chains around the world. One of the most vulnerable groups in this situation was the elderly. This study aims to investigate the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on food security of the elderly living in Isfahan, Iran. Methods: Written informed consent was obtained from 350 old people before entering the study. Data were collected using socioeconomic status and FaCPS-FSSM food security questionnaires; there were eight items which measured food security among the elderly. Results: 41.7% (n=146) of the elderly had complete food security. In addition, 29.4% (n=103), 20% (n=70), and 8.9% (n=31) of participants suffered from food insecurity without hunger, food insecurity with moderate hunger, and food insecurity with severe hunger, respectively. There was a significant association between socioeconomic factors, such as age, education level, family size, the number of children and food security (P<0.001). Meanwhile, variables of gender, ethnicity, the total number of children, and marital status were not significantly associated with food security (P>0.001). In addition, there was a significant association between economic factors such as employment status, homeownership, having health insurance, receiving food aid, being supported by philanthropic organizations, and food security (P<0.001). Conclusion: Considering the high prevalence of food insecurity among the elderly, special attention should be paid to factors contributing to this issue; they should be translated into improved food security for the elderly by removing risk factors and strengthening protective factors. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T17:10:21Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7bd4a9a774194c98bf9fda8f34024b7f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2476-7417 2476-7425 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T17:10:21Z |
| publishDate | 2023-08-01 |
| publisher | Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences and Health Services |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Nutrition and Food Security |
| spelling | doaj.art-7bd4a9a774194c98bf9fda8f34024b7f2023-08-06T07:56:04ZengShahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences and Health ServicesJournal of Nutrition and Food Security2476-74172476-74252023-08-0183376382Food Security of the Elderly during COVID-19 PandemicSheida Lafz0Zahra Amini1 Department of Community Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran Department of Community and Family Medicine, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran. Background: COVID-19 ushered in a new era of devastating economic and social conditions and sustainable food chains around the world. One of the most vulnerable groups in this situation was the elderly. This study aims to investigate the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on food security of the elderly living in Isfahan, Iran. Methods: Written informed consent was obtained from 350 old people before entering the study. Data were collected using socioeconomic status and FaCPS-FSSM food security questionnaires; there were eight items which measured food security among the elderly. Results: 41.7% (n=146) of the elderly had complete food security. In addition, 29.4% (n=103), 20% (n=70), and 8.9% (n=31) of participants suffered from food insecurity without hunger, food insecurity with moderate hunger, and food insecurity with severe hunger, respectively. There was a significant association between socioeconomic factors, such as age, education level, family size, the number of children and food security (P<0.001). Meanwhile, variables of gender, ethnicity, the total number of children, and marital status were not significantly associated with food security (P>0.001). In addition, there was a significant association between economic factors such as employment status, homeownership, having health insurance, receiving food aid, being supported by philanthropic organizations, and food security (P<0.001). Conclusion: Considering the high prevalence of food insecurity among the elderly, special attention should be paid to factors contributing to this issue; they should be translated into improved food security for the elderly by removing risk factors and strengthening protective factors.http://jnfs.ssu.ac.ir/article-1-556-en.pdffood securitycovid-19elderlyisfahan |
| spellingShingle | Sheida Lafz Zahra Amini Food Security of the Elderly during COVID-19 Pandemic Journal of Nutrition and Food Security food security covid-19 elderly isfahan |
| title | Food Security of the Elderly during COVID-19 Pandemic |
| title_full | Food Security of the Elderly during COVID-19 Pandemic |
| title_fullStr | Food Security of the Elderly during COVID-19 Pandemic |
| title_full_unstemmed | Food Security of the Elderly during COVID-19 Pandemic |
| title_short | Food Security of the Elderly during COVID-19 Pandemic |
| title_sort | food security of the elderly during covid 19 pandemic |
| topic | food security covid-19 elderly isfahan |
| url | http://jnfs.ssu.ac.ir/article-1-556-en.pdf |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT sheidalafz foodsecurityoftheelderlyduringcovid19pandemic AT zahraamini foodsecurityoftheelderlyduringcovid19pandemic |