Food insecurity, childhood illness and maternal emotional distress in Ethiopia

Abstract

Objective: The relationship between food insecurity, maternal emotional distress and childhood morbidity in resource-poor settings is not well clarified. The present study aimed to assess independent associations between household food insecurity and childhood morbidity and potential modifications by maternal emotional distress. Design: A cross-sectional survey. A food security scale was used to assess household food insecurity; maternal reports were used to assess recent childhood illness; and the Hopkins Symptom Checklist was used to assess symptoms of emotional distress among mothers. Setting: The Oromia Region, Ethiopia (rural area). Subjects: A total of 936 mother-child pairs. Results: Of 936 children assessed, 22?4 % had experienced diarrhoea, 20?7 % had cough and 21?5 % had fever in the 2 weeks preceding the interview. Household food insecurity was reported by 39 % of mothers. Greater food insecurity and greater maternal emotional distress were each independently associated with higher

Household Food Insecurity is Associated with Respiratory Infections Among 6–11-Month Old Infants in Rural Ghana

“…Among Ethiopian children aged 9-30 months, HHFI was also a significant predictor of cough over the previous 2 weeks (OR: 1.42; 95% CI: 1.04, 2.02). 7 Our results showed a stronger association than reported in rural Ethiopia where the prevalence of food insecurity was much high (38-52%). 7,15 The difference between studies may reflect differences in the assessment of food insecurity in the 2 studies.…”

“…7 Our results showed a stronger association than reported in rural Ethiopia where the prevalence of food insecurity was much high (38-52%). 7,15 The difference between studies may reflect differences in the assessment of food insecurity in the 2 studies. The Ethiopian study used a 7-item questionnaire, which did not include questions on reduced quality (perceived healthy foods) for children.…”

“…6 Whereas HHFI has been associated with childhood diarrhea and malaria, there is limited information regarding its relationship with respiratory infections. 7,8 Two plausible mechanisms have been proposed to explain an association between infections and HHFI. First, food insecure families have low-quality diets, 9 and this result in multiple micronutrient deficiencies, which then increase the risk of infection.…”

Factors Associated with Food Insecurity in Households of Public School Students of Salvador City, Bahia, Brazil

“…A number of studies have examined the impact of FI on health conditions, especially among children and adolescents. These studies indicate that FI is associated with an impairment of dietary patterns (10), nutritional status (11-14), physical and mental development (8,13), an increase in susceptibility to infectious diseases (15), and the risk of chronic diseases in adulthood (6,16). In addition to child labour, begging, and domestic violence, the FI may result in increasing the rates of failure and dropout in schools (17,18).…”

The association between intimate partner domestic violence and the food security status of poor families in Brazil

“…Not only is food insecurity associated with food availability, but it is also related to social vulnerability, which includes a combination of socio-economic, demographic and psychosocial variables (4) . As such, it leads to a reduction in the level of well-being and negatively impacts families' quality of life (5)(6)(7)(8) .…”