Prevalence and socio‐demographic predictors of food insecurity among regional and remote Western Australian children
Abstract Objective: Inequities can negatively impact the health outcomes of children. The aims of this study were to: i) ascertain the prevalence of food insecurity (FI) among regional and remote Western Australian (WA) children; and ii) determine which socio‐demographic factors predicted child FI....
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2017-12-01
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| Series: | Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1111/1753-6405.12716 |
| _version_ | 1827848472275976192 |
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| author | Stephanie Godrich Johnny Lo Christina Davies Jill Darby Amanda Devine |
| author_facet | Stephanie Godrich Johnny Lo Christina Davies Jill Darby Amanda Devine |
| author_sort | Stephanie Godrich |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Objective: Inequities can negatively impact the health outcomes of children. The aims of this study were to: i) ascertain the prevalence of food insecurity (FI) among regional and remote Western Australian (WA) children; and ii) determine which socio‐demographic factors predicted child FI. Methods: Caregiver‐child dyads (n=219) completed cross‐sectional surveys. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression analyses were conducted using IBM SPSS version 23. Results: Overall, 20.1% of children were classified as FI. Children whose family received government financial assistance were more likely to be FI (OR 2.60; CI 1.15, 5.91; p=0.022), as were children living in a Medium disadvantage area (OR 2.60; CI 1.18, 5.72; p=0.017), compared to High or Low SEIFA ratings. Conclusions: Study findings are suggestive of the impact low income has on capacity to be food secure. The higher FI prevalence among children from families receiving financial assistance and living in medium disadvantage areas indicates more support for these families is required. Recommendations include: ensuring government plans and policies adequately support disadvantaged families; increasing employment opportunities; establishing evidence on the causes and the potential impact of FI on children's health. Implications for public health: One in five children were FI, demonstrating that FI is an issue in Western Australia. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T09:47:35Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d4b0b26a5e5045ae9c459c17bffdcda5 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1326-0200 1753-6405 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T09:47:35Z |
| publishDate | 2017-12-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-d4b0b26a5e5045ae9c459c17bffdcda52023-09-02T12:47:23ZengElsevierAustralian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health1326-02001753-64052017-12-0141658559010.1111/1753-6405.12716Prevalence and socio‐demographic predictors of food insecurity among regional and remote Western Australian childrenStephanie Godrich0Johnny Lo1Christina Davies2Jill Darby3Amanda Devine4School of Medical and Health Sciences Edith Cowan University Western AustraliaSchool of Science Edith Cowan University Western AustraliaSchool of Population Health The University of Western AustraliaSchool of Medical and Health Sciences Edith Cowan University Western AustraliaSchool of Medical and Health Sciences Edith Cowan University Western AustraliaAbstract Objective: Inequities can negatively impact the health outcomes of children. The aims of this study were to: i) ascertain the prevalence of food insecurity (FI) among regional and remote Western Australian (WA) children; and ii) determine which socio‐demographic factors predicted child FI. Methods: Caregiver‐child dyads (n=219) completed cross‐sectional surveys. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression analyses were conducted using IBM SPSS version 23. Results: Overall, 20.1% of children were classified as FI. Children whose family received government financial assistance were more likely to be FI (OR 2.60; CI 1.15, 5.91; p=0.022), as were children living in a Medium disadvantage area (OR 2.60; CI 1.18, 5.72; p=0.017), compared to High or Low SEIFA ratings. Conclusions: Study findings are suggestive of the impact low income has on capacity to be food secure. The higher FI prevalence among children from families receiving financial assistance and living in medium disadvantage areas indicates more support for these families is required. Recommendations include: ensuring government plans and policies adequately support disadvantaged families; increasing employment opportunities; establishing evidence on the causes and the potential impact of FI on children's health. Implications for public health: One in five children were FI, demonstrating that FI is an issue in Western Australia.https://doi.org/10.1111/1753-6405.12716food securityregionalremotechildren |
| spellingShingle | Stephanie Godrich Johnny Lo Christina Davies Jill Darby Amanda Devine Prevalence and socio‐demographic predictors of food insecurity among regional and remote Western Australian children Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health food security regional remote children |
| title | Prevalence and socio‐demographic predictors of food insecurity among regional and remote Western Australian children |
| title_full | Prevalence and socio‐demographic predictors of food insecurity among regional and remote Western Australian children |
| title_fullStr | Prevalence and socio‐demographic predictors of food insecurity among regional and remote Western Australian children |
| title_full_unstemmed | Prevalence and socio‐demographic predictors of food insecurity among regional and remote Western Australian children |
| title_short | Prevalence and socio‐demographic predictors of food insecurity among regional and remote Western Australian children |
| title_sort | prevalence and socio demographic predictors of food insecurity among regional and remote western australian children |
| topic | food security regional remote children |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1111/1753-6405.12716 |
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