Factors Influencing Household Food Security Status

Abstract

Poor nutrition can lead to reduced immunity, impaired physical and mental development and reduced productivity. The objectives of this study were to determine the Influencing factors on the household food insecurity status. This cross-sectional study conducted on 2500 households selected from Qaresoo region in the northwest of Iran. Household food security status measured by a validated short questionnaire including six questions and other required data (influencing factors) obtained alongside the validated questionnaire. Chisquare and logistic regression used for data analysis using SPSS software. Forty Percent of households suffered from low food insecurity and twenty percent had experienced very low food insecurity. Severity of household food insecurity increased with increasing distance from the city (Exp (B) = 1.05, 95% C.I = 1.03-1.07). It decreased with increasing centers that provides food (Exp (B) = 0.97, 95% C.I = 0.97-0.98) Residential infrastructure (Exp (B) = 0.99, 95% C.I = 0.98-0.99) Family size (Exp (B) = 0.92, 95% C.I = 0.87-0.98) and the presence of both parents in comparison the presence of single parent at home (Exp (B) = 0.46, 95% C.I = 0.32-0.66). Spearman correlation test also showed that mean per capita income had a significant inverse correlation with household food insecurity status. (Correlation coefficient = –0.3, P < 0.05). Socioeconomic factors were affecting the household food insecurity status. More studies seem to be essential in order to provide practical solutions to reduce the severity of food insecurity.