Premium
Household food insecurity is associated with childhood stunting in vulnerable populations in Lebanon (1014.3)
Author(s) -
Ghattas Hala,
Sahyoun Nadine,
Sassine AnnieBelle,
Barbour Jessica,
Seyfert Karin,
Hwalla Nahla,
Nord Mark
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.28.1_supplement.1014.3
Subject(s) - food insecurity , food security , environmental health , context (archaeology) , overweight , geography , medicine , demography , obesity , archaeology , agriculture , sociology
Household food insecurity (HFI) has been shown to be an independent predictor of poor child nutritional status in various settings. In the Middle East region, no data exist on the effect of directly measured HFI on children’s nutritional outcomes. Using data from three household surveys of at‐risk communities in Lebanon, we examined the effect of HFI on nutritional status of children aged 6‐59 months (n=355) living in such communities. Food security was assessed using a 6‐item validated food security survey module. We found significantly higher rates of stunting in severely food insecure households (SFI) (23.4%) than food secure (4.9%) and moderately food insecure households (6.1%). After adjusting for age, gender and socio‐economic status, severe food insecurity remained an independent predictor of stunting (OR=3.74, p=0.002). Prevalence of overweight was also higher in the SFI, but this difference did not reach statistical significance. In the context of the advancing nutrition transition in Lebanon and other Middle Eastern countries, the results of this study indicate the need to explore and address the underlying causes of household food insecurity. This could contribute to reducing risk of childhood stunting, and its potential long term consequences on child health and development. Grant Funding Source : Supported by the American University of Beirut, the Heinrich Boll Foundation and UNHCR.