Differences in food insecurity between adults and children in Zimbabwe

Kuku, Oluyemisi; Gundersen, Craig; Garasky, Steven

doi:10.1016/j.foodpol.2010.11.029

Cited by 48 publications

(36 citation statements)

References 30 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…In addition, the scales from the childrenÕs reports were poorly correlated with the scale from the mothersÕ reports, which is consistent with other studies in the United States (18,19), Zimbabwe (52), and Ethiopia (53). Discordance between the reports may reflect differences in experiences or may be attributable to parental buffering, social desirability in responses, other reporting errors (18), or differences in measurement properties.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 85%

Food Insecurity in Children but Not in Their Mothers Is Associated with Altered Activities, School Absenteeism, and Stunting

Bernal

Frongillo

Herrera

et al. 2014

The Journal of Nutrition

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Household food insecurity has substantial detrimental effects on children, but little is known about the mechanisms through which these effects occur. This study investigated some possible mechanisms by examining associations of food insecurity reported by children and mothers with daily activities, school absenteeism, and stunting. We conducted a cross-sectional study in a nonprobabilistic sample of 131 mother-child pairs from a poor peri-urban area in Miranda State, Venezuela. We assessed food insecurity in children by using an instrument developed through a naturalistic approach that had 10 items for food insecurity and 9 items for management strategies. To obtain mothers' reports of food insecurity, a previously validated 12-item instrument was used. Children's daily activities, school absenteeism, and stunting were measured. Chi-square tests for contingency tables and logistic and multiple regression analyses were used to test associations of food insecurity with outcomes. There was no association between mothers' reports of food-insecurity and any child outcome. Children's reports of food insecurity were associated with higher odds of doing passive home chores (OR: 1.17; 95% CI: 1.02, 1.32), cooking at home (OR: 1.21; 95% CI: 1.05, 1,38), taking care of siblings (OR: 1.15; 95% CI: 1.01, 1.31), and doing labor (OR: 1.22; 95% CI: 1.04, 1.42) and lower odds of playing video games (OR: 0.86; 95% CI: 0.76, 0.98) (all P < 0.03). Children's reports of management strategies were associated with 5 of 7 work activities measured. Labor in food-insecure children was the main activity that explained school absenteeism. Food insecurity reported by children can be assessed by pediatricians, school personnel, and other practitioners by using a simple instrument to identify food-insecure children and to respond to mitigate their food insecurity and its consequences.

show abstract

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 85%

Food Insecurity in Children but Not in Their Mothers Is Associated with Altered Activities, School Absenteeism, and Stunting

Bernal

Frongillo

Herrera

et al. 2014

The Journal of Nutrition

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Similarly, in Zimbabwe, children reported lower FI than did adults, except in better-off households, where children were often more likely to report FI than adults who work in the formal sector, using measures related with income and assets (quality of housing). They concluded that children are more likely protected from FI in households that reside in higher quality housing but not in households where the head earns a relatively high income (23).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Children Live, Feel, and Respond to Experiences of Food Insecurity That Compromise Their Development and Weight Status in Peri-Urban Venezuela,

Bernal

Frongillo

Herrera

et al. 2012

The Journal of Nutrition

109

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Children's experiences of food insecurity (FI) may be conceptually distinct and different from those of adults. Previous study of children's experiences of FI has relied primarily on their parents' perspective. This study explored, described, and conceptualized experiences of FI in children attending 5 public schools in peri-urban areas of the Miranda State, Venezuela, South America using a naturalistic approach. Children aged 10-17 y were studied through focus groups (n = 42) and individual interviews (n = 13). Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using grounded theory. Children were cognitively aware of FI, worry in their parents, and causes both external and internal to their households. Children were also emotionally aware of FI, with feelings of concern, anguish, and sadness, and manifestations such as crying. Children reported being physically hungry, experiencing reduced quantity and quality of food intake, having smaller meals, and recognizing thinness and fainting as consequences. Children's responses to FI included reduction of quality and quantity of food, child labor, sacrifice in food consumption, food from waste, support from extended family members, and strategies for purchasing, acquiring, preparing, and cooking food. Children were not always protected, especially when the head of the family was unemployed, had drug-alcohol problems, or was extremely poor. Protection could come from parents to children and from older children to parents and younger children. Children should have certain access to food that is dignified, timely, efficient, and adequate in harmonious social conditions to prevent and resolve situations that compromise their physical, cognitive, and socio-emotional well-being.

show abstract

“…A child may live in a non-poor household, but be subjected to inappropriate feeding practices that lead to food insecurity. Alternatively, a child in a poor household may be food secure due to parents' food management strategies that preference child over adult food needs [23][24][25].…”

Section: Conceptual Distinctions Between Food Insecurity and Related mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Second, although adult respondents may believe that they know what children experience, research indicates that their knowledge is partial at best. For instance, mothers report managing household food resources for the whole family, and cutting back how much they eat at times of food scarcity in order to protect children [23]. Children, however, report eating less when food runs low so that younger siblings and parents have enough to eat [48].…”

Section: B) Practical Considerations For a Global Monitoring Systemmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Measurement of Food Insecurity Among Children

Fram¹,

Bernal²,

Frongillo³

2015

Innocenti Working Papers

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Differences in food insecurity between adults and children in Zimbabwe

Cited by 48 publications

References 30 publications

Food Insecurity in Children but Not in Their Mothers Is Associated with Altered Activities, School Absenteeism, and Stunting

Food Insecurity in Children but Not in Their Mothers Is Associated with Altered Activities, School Absenteeism, and Stunting

Children Live, Feel, and Respond to Experiences of Food Insecurity That Compromise Their Development and Weight Status in Peri-Urban Venezuela,

The Measurement of Food Insecurity Among Children

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About