266036 Determinants of food insecurity among poor Hispanic and white households

Monday, October 29, 2012

Aydin Nazmi, PhD , Food Science and Nutrition, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA
Ally Lund, BS , Food Science and Nutrition, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA
Caroline Ginsberg, BA , Food Bank Coalition of San Luis Obispo County, Paso Robles, CA
Christian Cardenas, BS , STRIDE, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA
Katlin Baumgartner, BS , STRIDE, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA
Stephanie Teaford, BS , STRIDE, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA
Ann Y. McDermott, PhD, MS, LDN , STRIDE, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA
Food insecurity is associated with ethnicity, but key mediating variables may influence this relationship differentially between groups. Studies investigating determinants among ethnically diverse, poor populations are rare.

A food security assessment was conducted among vulnerable populations in a rural California county, collecting sociodemographic and household information via in-person interviews in English and Spanish at 54 sites (N=808). Household size, employment, income, and home ownership data were examined with respect to food insecurity between Hispanic and white households using stratified logistic regression models.

Food insecurity was widespread (73% white, 76% Hispanic). Hispanic households were larger than white households (mean 4 vs. 2 members, p=0.001). Hispanic households worked more often (16% vs. 63% unemployed, p<0.001) and had higher median monthly household income overall ($1500 vs. $1000, respectively, p<0.001), but not per capita ($357 vs. $757, respectively, p<0.001). About 20% of both groups earned benefits. There was no difference in home ownership between ethnic groups. In univariate analyses, smaller households (p=0.05), households with benefited workers (p<0.001), households with higher income (p=0.001), and home-owning households (p<0.001) were at lower risk for food insecurity.

In the full model, among Hispanic households, larger household size was associated with food insecurity (OR per person= 1.29; 95% CI 1.05-1.57). Among white households, not owning a home was associated (OR for not owning a home= 2.33; 95% CI 1.09-4.99). Among both groups, household income was strongly and inversely associated.

Strategies for addressing food insecurity may be more effective if targeted approaches consider differences in risk factors between ethnic groups.

Learning Areas:
Epidemiology
Public health or related research
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
1) To compare factors associated with food insecurity between poor Hispanic and white households 2) To assess the differential impact of household, employment, and income factors on food insecurity among poor Hispanic and white households

Keywords: Food Security, Ethnicity

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I was one of the principal investigators in this project, have been involved in social epidemiology research for many years, and conducted all the analyses associated with these findings.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

Back to: 3184.1: Social Epidemiology Poster Session 2