Maternal resources and household food security: evidence from Nicaragua

Abstract

Objective: Women (especially mothers) are theorized as critical to reducing household food insecurity through their work and caregiver roles. The present study tests these assumptions, assessing how maternal economic and social resources are associated with food insecurity in households with young children. Design: Data from a population-based sample of households was collected in León, Nicaragua (n 443). Data include a newly validated measure of household food insecurity (ELCSA), maternal resource measures, and household economic status and demographics. Regression analysis tests the statistical associations (P < 0·05) of maternal resources with household, adult-specific and child-specific food insecurity. Setting: Municipality of León, Nicaragua. Subjects: Households with children aged 3-11 years in rural and urban León. Results: Only 25 % of households with young children were food secure, with 50 % mildly food insecure and 25 % moderately/severely food insecure. When mothers contributed substantially to household income, the odds of moderate/severe household food insecurity were 34 % lower than when their spouse/partner was the main provider. The odds of food insecurity were 60 % lower when mothers managed household money, 48 % lower when mothers had a secondary (v. primary) education, 65 % higher among single mothers and 16 % lower with each indicator of social support. Results were similar for adult-and child-specific food insecurity. Conclusions: This research provides new evidence that maternal economic and social resources are important for reducing household food insecurity and adultand child-specific food insecurity. Women's social status, social support and access to economic resources need to be enhanced as a part of policies aimed to reduce food insecurity in high-poverty settings.

Investigating tangible and mental resources as predictors of perceived household food insecurity during pregnancy among women in a South African birth cohort study

“…Although we did have a measure of partner income, we did not collect information on how much the partners shared this income with the pregnant women. Recent research shows that when women have control over the household spending, household food insecurity is significantly lower (Schmeer et al, 2015). More information regarding resource sharing within this small dyadic network would be helpful to further investigate this possibility.…”

“…Furthermore, the questions do not specifically speak to maternal food insecurity, which possibly have different significant predictors. For example, self-income may have been significant across both studies due to the relationship between monetary funds and maternal food insecurity (Schmeer et al, 2015). Additionally, we may have found the mental health resources to be more consistently significant across the communities based on previous research in high-income countries (Laraia, Siega-Riz, Gundersen, & Dole, 2006; Whitaker, Phillips, & Orzol, 2006).…”

“…At the individual-level, some pregnant women may have their own personal income to assist with obtaining food for their household, thereby reducing household food insecurity (Schmeer et al, 2015). Additionally, programs that provide financial assistance for things other than food such as care for disabled dependents can take strain off finances that can be re-appropriated towards the costs of acquiring food (Ivers & Cullen, 2011).…”

Advancing Food Security through Agroecological Technologies: The Implementation of the Biointensive Method in the Dry Corridor of Nicaragua

“…Moreover, at least 50% of women, as compared to the total number of participants, have now greater access and control of the family income, due to the sale of those surplus products. Some studies have shown that when women's economic contribution is greater, families are less exposed to food insecurity [43].…”

Food insecurity: a critical public health nutrition concern

“…Nevertheless, food shortage may have lasted longer than the period of 12 months evaluated in the study and stunting and underweight in these children might have developed before this period, as the authors properly pointed out (10) . In a population-based study, Schmeer et al (11) tested the hypothesis that mothers' economic and social resources can help to reduce FI. Evaluating households with children aged 3-11 years, the authors found a high FI rate (75 %) in a town in Nicaragua.…”