Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Food Insecurity in Puerto Rico

ABSTRACT

This survey (n = 1,356) reports food insecurity (FI) in Puerto Rico (PR) at 38% before, and 40% since, the COVID-19 pandemic. Odds for FI increased for households with annual income ≤$15k vs. ≥$60k (OR: 3.52; 95% CI: 1.20, 10.36); experiencing an income reduction (OR: 2.22 (1.55, 3.18)); participating in the United States Department of Agriculture Nutrition Assistance Program (OR: 1.75 (1.14, 2.70)); higher food acquisition anxiety (OR: 1.45 (1.29, 1.64)); increased home availability of fruit-flavored drinks (OR: 1.52 (1.04, 2.22)), whereas increased fruit availability was protective (OR: 0.63 (0.43, 0.93)). Results heighten the need to examine FI strategies in PR.

KEYWORDS:

• COVID-19
• food insecurity
• puerto rico
• food acquisition
• nutrition security
• territory
• us territories

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).