Food Insecurity Prevalence, Severity and Determinants in Australian Households during the COVID-19 Pandemic from the Perspective of Women
This study aimed to describe the prevalence, severity and socio-demographic predictors of food insecurity in Australian households during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, from the perspective of women. A cross-sectional online survey of Australian (18–50 years) women was conducted. The survey collecte...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-11-01
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| Series: | Nutrients |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/13/12/4262 |
| _version_ | 1797501864968716288 |
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| author | Sue Kleve Christie J. Bennett Zoe E. Davidson Nicole J. Kellow Tracy A. McCaffrey Sharleen O’Reilly Joanne Enticott Lisa J. Moran Cheryce L. Harrison Helena Teede Siew Lim |
| author_facet | Sue Kleve Christie J. Bennett Zoe E. Davidson Nicole J. Kellow Tracy A. McCaffrey Sharleen O’Reilly Joanne Enticott Lisa J. Moran Cheryce L. Harrison Helena Teede Siew Lim |
| author_sort | Sue Kleve |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study aimed to describe the prevalence, severity and socio-demographic predictors of food insecurity in Australian households during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, from the perspective of women. A cross-sectional online survey of Australian (18–50 years) women was conducted. The survey collected demographic information and utilised the 18-item US Department of Agriculture Household Food Security Survey Module and the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10). A multivariable regression was used to identify predictors of food security status. In this cohort (<i>n</i> = 1005), 19.6% were living in households experiencing food insecurity; with 11.8% experiencing low food-security and 7.8% very low food-security. A further 13.7% of households reported marginal food-security. Poor mental health status (K10 score ≥ 20) predicted household food insecurity at all levels. The presence of more than three children in the household was associated with low food-security (OR 6.24, 95% CI: 2.59–15.03). Those who were renting were 2.10 (95% CI: 1.09–4.05) times likely to experience very low food-security than those owning their own home. The COVID-19 pandemic may have contributed to an increased prevalence of household food insecurity. This study supports the need for a range of responses that address mental health, financial, employment and housing support to food security in Australia. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T03:24:45Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c8737dddc3964bcc9fb811e62e281af4 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2072-6643 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T03:24:45Z |
| publishDate | 2021-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nutrients |
| spelling | doaj.art-c8737dddc3964bcc9fb811e62e281af42023-11-23T09:55:16ZengMDPI AGNutrients2072-66432021-11-011312426210.3390/nu13124262Food Insecurity Prevalence, Severity and Determinants in Australian Households during the COVID-19 Pandemic from the Perspective of WomenSue Kleve0Christie J. Bennett1Zoe E. Davidson2Nicole J. Kellow3Tracy A. McCaffrey4Sharleen O’Reilly5Joanne Enticott6Lisa J. Moran7Cheryce L. Harrison8Helena Teede9Siew Lim10Department of Nutrition, Dietetics and Food, School of Clinical Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC 3168, AustraliaDepartment of Nutrition, Dietetics and Food, School of Clinical Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC 3168, AustraliaDepartment of Nutrition, Dietetics and Food, School of Clinical Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC 3168, AustraliaDepartment of Nutrition, Dietetics and Food, School of Clinical Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC 3168, AustraliaDepartment of Nutrition, Dietetics and Food, School of Clinical Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC 3168, AustraliaSchool of Agriculture and Food Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, D04 V1W8 Dublin, IrelandMonash Centre for Health Research and Implementation (MCHRI), School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC 3168, AustraliaMonash Centre for Health Research and Implementation (MCHRI), School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC 3168, AustraliaMonash Centre for Health Research and Implementation (MCHRI), School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC 3168, AustraliaMonash Centre for Health Research and Implementation (MCHRI), School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC 3168, AustraliaMonash Centre for Health Research and Implementation (MCHRI), School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC 3168, AustraliaThis study aimed to describe the prevalence, severity and socio-demographic predictors of food insecurity in Australian households during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, from the perspective of women. A cross-sectional online survey of Australian (18–50 years) women was conducted. The survey collected demographic information and utilised the 18-item US Department of Agriculture Household Food Security Survey Module and the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10). A multivariable regression was used to identify predictors of food security status. In this cohort (<i>n</i> = 1005), 19.6% were living in households experiencing food insecurity; with 11.8% experiencing low food-security and 7.8% very low food-security. A further 13.7% of households reported marginal food-security. Poor mental health status (K10 score ≥ 20) predicted household food insecurity at all levels. The presence of more than three children in the household was associated with low food-security (OR 6.24, 95% CI: 2.59–15.03). Those who were renting were 2.10 (95% CI: 1.09–4.05) times likely to experience very low food-security than those owning their own home. The COVID-19 pandemic may have contributed to an increased prevalence of household food insecurity. This study supports the need for a range of responses that address mental health, financial, employment and housing support to food security in Australia.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/13/12/4262food securitywomenmental healthAustralia |
| spellingShingle | Sue Kleve Christie J. Bennett Zoe E. Davidson Nicole J. Kellow Tracy A. McCaffrey Sharleen O’Reilly Joanne Enticott Lisa J. Moran Cheryce L. Harrison Helena Teede Siew Lim Food Insecurity Prevalence, Severity and Determinants in Australian Households during the COVID-19 Pandemic from the Perspective of Women Nutrients food security women mental health Australia |
| title | Food Insecurity Prevalence, Severity and Determinants in Australian Households during the COVID-19 Pandemic from the Perspective of Women |
| title_full | Food Insecurity Prevalence, Severity and Determinants in Australian Households during the COVID-19 Pandemic from the Perspective of Women |
| title_fullStr | Food Insecurity Prevalence, Severity and Determinants in Australian Households during the COVID-19 Pandemic from the Perspective of Women |
| title_full_unstemmed | Food Insecurity Prevalence, Severity and Determinants in Australian Households during the COVID-19 Pandemic from the Perspective of Women |
| title_short | Food Insecurity Prevalence, Severity and Determinants in Australian Households during the COVID-19 Pandemic from the Perspective of Women |
| title_sort | food insecurity prevalence severity and determinants in australian households during the covid 19 pandemic from the perspective of women |
| topic | food security women mental health Australia |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/13/12/4262 |
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