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Food insecurity in three socially disadvantaged localities in Sydney, Australia
Author(s) -
Nolan Michelle,
RikardBell Glenys,
Mohsin Mohammed,
Williams Mandy
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
health promotion journal of australia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.515
H-Index - 32
eISSN - 2201-1617
pISSN - 1036-1073
DOI - 10.1071/he06247
Subject(s) - disadvantaged , food security , environmental health , food insecurity , population health , public health , socioeconomics , geography , population , medicine , agriculture , economic growth , economics , nursing , archaeology
Issue addressed Food insecurity, now listed among the social determinants of health, compromises the health and well‐being of affected Australians. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of food insecurity within an urban population of social disadvantage in readiness for a local health promotion response. Methods This was a cross‐sectional survey conducted in three disadvantaged locations of south‐western Sydney. Prevalence of food insecurity was assessed using both the 16‐item US Household Food Security Survey Module and the single‐item question previously used in national Australian health surveys. Bivariate and multiple logistic regression analyses were performed to determine associations between food insecurity and socio‐demographic characteristics of the households. Results The 16‐item US tool yielded a significantly higher food insecurity prevalence (21.9%, 95% CI 20.0–23.8) than the single‐item Australian tool (15.8%, 95% CI 14.1–17.5). Compared with the former, the single‐item Australian tool has high specificity (96%) yet low sensitivity (56.9%). In our three sites, food insecurity was strongly and independently associated with household capacity to save money (AOR=5.05). Local fruit and vegetable production (83.8%), nutrition education (83.9%), transport to food outlets (81.5%) and better public transport overall (76.3%) were most highly rated by ‘food insecure’ households as useful future strategies. Conclusion The higher sensitivity of the US 16‐item food security survey module relative to the single‐item Australian tool indicates its potential for use in future Australian surveys of food insecurity. So what? In the absence of strategies already proven to make a difference to food insecurity, the findings of this study will inform the initiation of local health promotion interventions addressing inequities identified by food‐insecure households of Sydney South West Area Health Service and add to the evidence base.