The Relationship between Structural Social Determinants of Health and Food Insecurity among Pregnant Women

Abstract

Background: Food insecurity, as a major public health concern, is a useful indicator of an individual's health and wellbeing. Objectives: This study aimed to identify the relationship between the structural social determinants of health and food insecurity among pregnant women. Methods: This cross sectional study was conducted on 837 pregnant women, using stratified cluster sampling. The number of samples from each city of Ilam Province was determined, based on the proportion of women at reproductive age in every city. Urban healthcare centers were selected from each city, and eligible samples were recruited at 24 -28 weeks of gestation, based on the inclusion criteria. Data were collected on women's demographic and obstetric characteristics, socioeconomic status, and food security status. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 19.