A pilot examination of the inter-rater reliability of the 18-item Household Food Security Module between cohabiting mothers and fathers

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 1306-1311
Author(s):  
Jaime S Foster ◽  
Kari Adamsons ◽  
Marlene B Schwartz ◽  
Emily A Taylor ◽  
Amy R Mobley
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
The United States ◽  
Household Food Security ◽  
United States Department ◽  
Rater Reliability ◽  
Mothers And Fathers ◽  
Household Food ◽  
Intraclass Correlations ◽  
Item Level

Abstract Food insecurity, defined as the inability to access sufficient food for an active, healthy life, affects 11.1% of the US population and is primarily assessed using the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) 18-item Household Food Security Survey Module (HFSSM). The HFSSM is a self-report measure presumed to represent all household members, but it is unknown if cohabiting parents report food security differently. This pilot study aimed to determine (i) the inter-rater reliability of the HFSSM; (ii) the direction of any difference between responses to the HFSSM; and (iii) the item-level response similarities and differences among mothers and fathers of young children. Twenty-five pairs of low-income, food-insecure cohabiting parents of 2.5- to 10-year-old children participated in cognitive interviews assessing their level of food security using the USDA’s HFSSM and completed related questionnaires. Intraclass correlations were computed to compare the responses of each dyad on the HFSSM overall and by item. Results revealed that overall report of food security was significantly but weakly correlated (r = .40, p = .02) within dyads. The majority of fathers (60%) reported higher food security scores on the HFSSM than their respective female partners. Furthermore, item-level intraclass correlations revealed that some HFSSM questions had poor reliability between cohabiting parents. This research identifies that a potential shortcoming of the HFSSM is the under-reporting of food insecurity by fathers compared with mothers within the household. These findings have implications for the utility of this measure used in national monitoring of the nation’s food security.

scholarly journals Measuring household food security: the global experience

2008 ◽  
Vol 21 (suppl) ◽  
pp. 27s-37s ◽  
Author(s):  
Hugo Melgar-Quinonez ◽  
Michelle Hackett
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
The United States ◽  
Household Food Security ◽  
United States Department ◽  
Department Of Agriculture ◽  
Governmental Agencies ◽  
Household Food ◽  
Food Security Status ◽  
New Research

Measuring household food insecurity represents a challenge due to the complexity and wide array of factors associated with this phenomenon. For over one decade, researchers and agencies throughout the world have been using and assessing the validity of variations of the United States Department of Agriculture Household Food Security Supplemental Module. Thanks to numerous studies of diverse design, size, and purpose, the Household Food Security Supplemental Module has shown its suitability to directly evaluate the perceptions of individuals on their food security status. In addition, challenges and limitations are becoming clearer and new research questions are emerging as the process advances. The purpose of this article is to describe the development, validation procedures, and use of the Household Food Security Supplemental Module in very diverse settings. The most common Household Food Security Supplemental Module related studies have been conducted using criterion validity, Rasch modeling and Cronbach-Alpha Coefficient. It is critical that researchers, policy makers, governmental and non-governmental agencies intensify their efforts to further develop tools that provide valid and reliable measures of food security in diverse population groups. Additional work is needed to synthesize a universally applicable tool able to capture the global human phenomenon of food insecurity.

scholarly journals Food Insecurity among Senior Citizens in High Out-migration Areas: Evidence from Western Nepal

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Devendra Raj Singh ◽  
Saruna Ghimire ◽  
Eva M Jeffers ◽  
Sunita Singh ◽  
Dhirendra Nath ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Senior Citizens ◽  
Senior Citizen ◽  
The United States ◽  
Household Food Security ◽  
United States Department ◽  
Lower Odds ◽  
Household Food ◽  
Food Security Status

Abstract Background: Food insecurity is a critical public health challenge, in particular in low and middle-income countries. Nepal, a low-income country, is undergoing rapid demographic and epidemiological transitions with a growing population of senior citizens. However, the determinants of food security status among Nepali senior citizens are still unknown. This study aims to fill this gap focusing on the elderly populations in the far-western region, one of the poorest regions of the country. The study also aims to assess the potential impact of adult child migration on the food security status of the left behind elderly parents. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 260 randomly selected senior citizens in the Kanchanpur district in far-western Nepal. The short form of the household food security scale, originally developed by the United States Department of Agriculture, was used to measure household food security. Associations were examined by means of logistic regression. Results: The prevalence of food insecurity, in senior citizens’ households, was 41.1%. Senior citizen households with their adult children’s migration (AOR= 0.49, 95% CI: 0.24- 0.98) had lower odds of being food insecure and households with lower family income (<$100 compared to ≥ $100) (AOR= 2.24, 95% CI: 1.08 - 4.65) had two times higher odds of being food insecure. Also, households owning a cultivable land/farm (AOR= 0.14, 95% CI: 0.05-0.37) and involved in agriculture (AOR= 0.29, 95% CI: 0.09-0.99) or business (AOR= 0.20, 95% CI: 0.05-0.74) had lower odds of being food insecure. Conclusion: The prevalence of food insecurity among households with senior citizen in Kanchanpur district was high and associated with migration status of adult children, household income and ethnicity. This calls for a greater policy response focused specifically on the households with elderly citizens and integration of gerontological evidence into the existing food security and nutrition strategies.

scholarly journals Measuring and Understanding Food Insecurity in Australia: A Systematic Review

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 476 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fiona H. McKay ◽  
Bronte C. Haines ◽  
Matthew Dunn
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Food Security ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
The United States ◽  
Household Food Security ◽  
Measurement Tool ◽  
Clear Understanding ◽  
United States Department ◽  
Household Food ◽  
Wide Range

The number of Australians seeking food aid has increased in recent years; however, the current variability in the measurement of food insecurity means that the prevalence and severity of food insecurity in Australia is likely underreported. This is compounded by infrequent national health surveys that measure food insecurity, resulting in outdated population-level food insecurity data. This review sought to investigate the breadth of food insecurity research conducted in Australia to evaluate how this construct is being measured. A systematic review was conducted to collate the available Australian research. Fifty-seven publications were reviewed. Twenty-two used a single-item measure to examine food security status; 11 used the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Household Food Security Survey Module (HFSSM); two used the Radimer/Cornell instrument; one used the Household Food and Nutrition Security Survey (HFNSS); while the remainder used a less rigorous or unidentified method. A wide range in prevalence and severity of food insecurity in the community was reported; food insecurity ranged from 2% to 90%, depending on the measurement tool and population under investigation. Based on the findings of this review, the authors suggest that there needs to be greater consistency in measuring food insecurity, and that work is needed to create a measure of food insecurity tailored for the Australian context. Such a tool will allow researchers to gain a clear understanding of the prevalence of food insecurity in Australia to create better policy and practice responses.

scholarly journals Food Insecurity among Senior Citizens in High Out-migration Areas: Evidence from Western Nepal

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Devendra Raj Singh ◽  
Saruna Ghimire ◽  
Eva M Jeffers ◽  
Sunita Singh ◽  
Dhirendra Nath ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Senior Citizens ◽  
Short Form ◽  
Senior Citizen ◽  
The United States ◽  
Household Food Security ◽  
United States Department ◽  
Lower Odds ◽  
Household Food

Abstract Background: Food insecurity is a critical public health challenge, particularly in low and middle-income countries such as Nepal. The demographic transition has resulted in a growing population of senior citizens. However, the determinants of food insecurity among Nepali senior citizens remain unknown. This study aims to fill this gap by assessing food insecurity among the older populations in the far-western region, one of the poorest regions of the country. Further, we also aim to assess the potential association between adult children’s migration and the food insecurity status of the left behind older parents.Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 260 randomly selected senior citizens in the Kanchanpur district in far-western Nepal. The short form of the household food security scale, originally developed by the United States Department of Agriculture, was used to measure household food security. Associations were examined by logistic regression. Results: The prevalence of food insecurity in senior citizens’ households was 41.1%. Senior citizen households with their adult children’s migration (AOR= 0.47, 95% CI: 0.24 - 0.95) had lower odds of being food insecure whereas households with lower family income (<$100 compared to ≥ $100) had two times higher odds of being food insecure (AOR= 2.26, 95% CI: 1.08 - 4.76). Also, households owning a cultivable land/farm (AOR= 0.14, 95% CI: 0.05-0.40), primary source of income as service/pension (AOR= 0.26, 95% CI: 0.08 - 0.89) or business (AOR= 0.15, 95% CI: 0.03 - 0.59) and participants who received geriatric allowances (AOR=0.05, 95% CI=0.01- 0.16) had lower odds of being food insecure. Conclusion: The prevalence of food insecurity among households with a senior citizen in Kanchanpur district was high and associated with the migration status of adult children, and household socioeconomic status. This calls for a greater policy response focused specifically on households with older adults and the integration of gerontological evidence into the existing food security and nutrition strategies.

scholarly journals High food insecurity in Latinx families and associated COVID-19 infection in the Greater Bay Area, California

BMC Nutrition ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Milagro Escobar ◽  
Andrea DeCastro Mendez ◽  
Maria Romero Encinas ◽  
Sofia Villagomez ◽  
Janet M. Wojcicki
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
San Francisco ◽  
Employment Status ◽  
The United States ◽  
Household Food Security ◽  
Bay Area ◽  
Household Food ◽  
History Of ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background Food insecurity impacts nearly one-in-four Latinx households in the United States and has been exacerbated by the novel coronavirus or COVID-19 pandemic. Methods We examined the impact of COVID-19 on household and child food security in three preexisting, longitudinal, Latinx urban cohorts in the San Francisco Bay Area (N = 375 households, 1875 individuals). Households were initially recruited during pregnancy and postpartum at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital (ZSFG) and UCSF Benioff prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. For this COVID-19 sub-study, participants responded to a 15-min telephonic interview. Participants answered 18 questions from the US Food Security Food Module (US HFSSM) and questions on types of food consumption, housing and employment status, and history of COVID-19 infection as per community or hospital-based testing. Food security and insecurity levels were compared with prior year metrics. Results We found low levels of household food security in Latinx families (by cohort: 29.2%; 34.2%; 60.0%) and child food security (56.9%, 54.1%, 78.0%) with differences between cohorts explained by self-reported levels of education and employment status. Food security levels were much lower than those reported previously in two cohorts where data had been recorded from prior years. Reported history of COVID-19 infection in households was 4.8% (95% Confidence Interval (CI); 1.5–14.3%); 7.2% (95%CI, 3.6–13.9%) and 3.5% (95%CI, 1.7–7.2%) by cohort and was associated with food insecurity in the two larger cohorts (p = 0.03; p = 0.01 respectively). Conclusions Latinx families in the Bay Area with children are experiencing a sharp rise in food insecurity levels during the COVID-19 epidemic. Food insecurity, similar to other indices of poverty, is associated with increased risk for COVID-19 infection. Comprehensive interventions are needed to address food insecurity in Latinx populations and further studies are needed to better assess independent associations between household food insecurity, poor nutritional health and risk of COVID-19 infection.

scholarly journals Using Household Fit Indices to Examine the Psychometric Quality of Food Insecurity Measures

2017 ◽  
Vol 78 (6) ◽  
pp. 1089-1107 ◽  
Author(s):  
George Engelhard ◽  
Matthew P. Rabbitt ◽  
Emily M. Engelhard
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
The United States ◽  
Household Food Security ◽  
Household Food Insecurity ◽  
Fit Indices ◽  
Household Level ◽  
Household Food ◽  
Psychometric Quality

This study focuses on model–data fit with a particular emphasis on household-level fit within the context of measuring household food insecurity. Household fit indices are used to examine the psychometric quality of household-level measures of food insecurity. In the United States, measures of food insecurity are commonly obtained from the U.S. Household Food Security Survey Module (HFSSM, 18 items) of the Current Population Survey Food Security Supplement (CPS-FSS). These measures, in various forms, are used to inform national programs and policies related to food insecurity. Data for low-income households with children from recent administrations of the HFSSM (2012-2014) are used in this study ( N = 7,324). The results suggest that there are detectable levels of misfit with Infit mean square error (MSE) statistics ranging from 6.73 % to 21.33% and Outfit MSE statistics ranging from 5.31% to 9.68%. The data suggest for Outfit MSE statistics that (a) male respondents, (b) respondents with lower levels of education, and (c) respondents who did not report participating in SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly the Food Stamp Program) tend to have more misfit. For Infit MSE statistics, lack of homeownership appears to be a predictor of misfit. The implications of this research for future research, theory, and policy related to the measurement of household food insecurity are discussed.

scholarly journals Food insecurity among households with children during the COVID-19 pandemic: results from a study among social media users across the United States

2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Niyati Parekh ◽  
Shahmir H. Ali ◽  
Joyce O’Connor ◽  
Yesim Tozan ◽  
Abbey M. Jones ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Social Media ◽  
Food Security ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
The United States ◽  
Household Food Security ◽  
United States Department ◽  
Households With Children

Abstract Background In the United States, approximately 11% of households were food insecure prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. The present study aims to describe the prevalence of food insecurity among adults and households with children living in the United States during the pandemic. Methods This study utilized social media as a recruitment platform to administer an original online survey on demographics and COVID-related food insecurity. The survey was disseminated through an advertisement campaign on Facebook and affiliated platforms. Food insecurity was assessed with a validated six-item United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Household Food Security Survey Module, which was used to create a six-point numerical food security score, where a higher score indicates lower food security. Individual-level participant demographic information was also collected. Logistic regressions (low/very-low compared with high/marginal food security) were performed to generate adjusted odds ratios (AOR) and 95%CIs for food insecurity and select demographic characteristics. Results Advertisements reached 250,701 individuals and resulted in 5,606 complete surveys. Overall, 14.7% of participants self-identified as having low or very low food security in their households, with higher prevalence (17.5%) among households with children. Unemployment (AOR:1.76, 95%CI:1.09–2.80), high school or lower education (AOR:2.25, 95%CI:1.29–3.90), and low income (AOR[$30,000-$50,000]:5.87, 95%CI:3.35–10.37; AOR[< $30,000]:10.61, 95%CI:5.50–20.80) were associated with higher odds of food insecurity in multivariable models among households with children (and the whole sample). Conclusions These data indicate exacerbation of food insecurity during the pandemic. The study will be instrumental in guiding additional research and time-sensitive interventions targeted towards vulnerable food insecure subgroups.

scholarly journals Food Insecurity, Depression, and Race: Correlations Observed Among College Students at a University in the Southeastern United States

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (21) ◽  
pp. 8268
Author(s):  
Nicole Reeder ◽  
Pradtana Tapanee ◽  
Anna Persell ◽  
Terezie Tolar-Peterson
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
College Students ◽  
Food Security ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Short Form ◽  
The United States ◽  
Household Food Security ◽  
United States Department ◽  
Fat Percentage ◽  
Patient Health

Food insecurity is common among college students in the United States and is associated with poorer health-related outcomes and academic performance. The aims of this study were to assess the prevalence of food insecurity at a large, public university in Mississippi, a state with the second highest rate of food insecurity in the nation, and to examine the associations between food insecurity, depression, and race in this group of students. Food security was measured using the United States Department of Agriculture Household Food Security Survey Module: Six-Item Short Form, and depression was measured using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9. In total, 131 students ages 18–24 participated in the study. Food insecurity was present in 38.2% of students surveyed. The odds of food insecurity were higher among African American students compared to Caucasian students (OR = 3.50, 95% CI: 1.38, 8.90). Students with very low food security had 4.52-times greater odds of having depression than food-secure students (p = 0.011, 95% CI: 1.42, 14.36). Neither body mass index nor body fat percentage were associated with food security status. Further research is needed on strategies to address the risk of depression among food-insecure college students and the racial disparity in food insecurity rates present among college students.

scholarly journals High Food Insecurity in Latinx Families and Associated COVID-19 Infection in the Greater Bay Area, California

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Milagro Escobar ◽  
Andrea DeCastro Mendez ◽  
Maria Romero Encinas ◽  
Janet M Wojcicki
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
San Francisco ◽  
Employment Status ◽  
The United States ◽  
Household Food Security ◽  
Bay Area ◽  
Household Food ◽  
History Of ◽  
The Impact

AbstractBackgroundFood insecurity impacts nearly one-in-four Latinx households in the United States and has been exacerbated by the novel coronavirus or COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsWe examined the impact of COVID-19 on household and child food security in three preexisting, longitudinal, Latinx urban cohorts in the San Francisco Bay Area (N=375 households, 1,875 individuals). Households were initially recruited during pregnancy and postpartum at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital (ZSFG) and UCSF Benioff prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. For this COVID sub-study, participants responded to a 15-minute telephonic interview. Participants answered 18 questions from the US Food Security Food Module (US HFSSM), described food consumption, housing and employment status, and history of COVID-19 infection as per community or hospital-based testing. Food security and insecurity levels were compared with prior year metrics.ResultsWe found low levels of household food security in Latinx families (by cohort: 29.2%; 34.2%; 60.0%) and child food security (56.9%; 54.1%; 78.0%) with differences between cohorts explained by self-reported levels of education and employment status. Food security levels were much lower than those reported previously in two cohorts where data had been recorded from prior years. Reported history of COVID-19 infection in households was 4.8% (95% Confidence Interval (CI); 1.5-14.3%); 7.2% (95%CI; 3.6-13.9%) and 3.5% (95%CI; 1.7-7.2%) by cohort and was associated with food insecurity in the two larger cohorts (p=0.03; p=0.01 respectively).ConclusionsLatinx families in the Bay Area with children are experiencing a sharp rise in food insecurity levels during the COVID-19 epidemic. Food insecurity, similar to other indices of poverty, is associated with increased risk for COVID-19 infection. Comprehensive interventions are needed to address food insecurity in Latinx populations and further studies are needed to better assess independent associations between household food insecurity, poor nutritional health and risk of COVID-19 infection.

scholarly journals Food Insecurity in Obese Adolescent Females in Tehran Schools: An Examination of Anthropometric and Socio-Economic Factors

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 280-286
Author(s):  
AHMAD REZA DOROSTI MOTLAGH ◽  
LEILA AZADBAKHT ◽  
NAYERE ESMAEIL KABOLI
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Home Ownership ◽  
Economic Status ◽  
The United States ◽  
Household Food Security ◽  
United States Department ◽  
Obese Adolescent ◽  
Mother’S Education ◽  
Mother's Education

Background: Obesity and its complications affect much of the population of the world today. In addition to physical complications, psychological complications also increase with increasing obesity. It has always been important to pay attention to the growing trend of childhood obesity, which is a factor in adulthood obesity and future chronic illnesses. Today, one of the factors that have been identified as effective in weight gain and obesity in urban communities is food insecurity, which is not merely a lack of food but also includes related factors such as upbringing, behaviour, psychosocial adaptation, and physical activity. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of food insecurity on anthropometric indicators and other relevant factors in obese girls aged 11 to 14 years. Method: In this study, 452 obese female students aged 11 to 14 years, who had BMI more than 2SD above the WHO 2007 reference point, were randomly selected from several schools in three areas of Tehran. After obtaining written consent, demographic information and food security information was collected using a General and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) questionnaire. Anthropometric indices and fat percentage were also measured, based on skinfold and by callipers. Finally, the data were analyzed using SPSS software. Results: There were significant differences between the level of father's education (p=0.004), mother's education (p<0.001), family economic status (p<0.001), and home ownership (p<0.001) in the two groups, food secure and insecure. There were also significant differences between height (p=0.02) and weight (p=0.03) in both groups. Also, according to an alternative 4-group food security categorization (secure, insecure without hunger, insecure with mild hunger, and severe hunger), significant differences were observed only in terms of father's job (p=0.004), father's education (p=0.001), mother's education (p<0.001), family economic status (p<0.001) and home ownership (p<0.001). Conclusion: There were significant associations between parents' occupation and education status, home ownership, household economic status, height and weight of children, and household food security status.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document