Accuracy of mother vs. child report of child food insecurity

Introduction. For 25 years, mothers were assumed to be the best reporters of food insecurity (FI). Recent studies, however, demonstrate that children have unique experiences of FI, children can report their own FI, and adult and child reports of FI are discordant. Who should be the reporter of children’s FI needs to be better understood. We tested accuracy of mother and child report of child FI by estimating relationships with nutritional and non-nutritional outcomes in 128 children-mothers pairs in Venezuela. Methods. We assessed FI for the pair using scales developed from qualitative research. Regression analyses were used to test associations of FI with diet, school absenteeism, and child daily activities. Results. Mother report of child FI was not associated with any outcome.  From child report, higher FI tended to be associated with lower intake of energy, protein, fat, iron, calcium, and zinc, with fat and zinc statistically significant (p=0.09, 0.04, respectively).  Higher child FI was associated with higher consumption of arepa, rice, crackers, soup, and sweet beverages (p<0.05) and lower consumption of breakfast cereal, cheese, juice, instant beverage, papaya, banana, lettuce, and salad (p<0.09). Higher child FI was associated with higher school absenteeism (p<0.05) and child work activities (e.g., home passive chores, cooking, and labor, p<0.01). Discussion. Child report of child FI more accurately predicted child outcomes than did mother report.  The associations of child FI with school absenteeism and alterations in daily activities may help explain the effects of FI on outcomes previously linked with detrimental child development.