Household Food Insecurity Is Associated with Nutritional Status among Iranian Children

ABSTRACT

This cross-sectional study was conducted to determine household food security status and sociodemographic factors influencing it and to examine whether food insecurity of household is a risk factor for underweight, stunting, and thinness in primary school children of Sistan and Baluchestan Province in southeastern Iran. A sample of 610 students aged 7–11 years was selected by a multistage cluster random sampling method during December 2013–May 2014. Using U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Security questionnaire, 42.3% of households showed some degree of food insecurity. Food insecurity was positively associated with household size (p = .002) and number of children per household (p = .001) and negatively associated with mother’s and father’s education level (p = .005 and p = .042, respectively), father’s occupation status, and household income (p < .0001). Children living in food insecure with severe hunger households were 10.13, 10.07, and 4.54 times as likely to be underweight, stunted, and thin, respectively, as counterparts from food secure households. The findings showed food insecurity was prevalent and associated with sociodemographic factors among households with schoolchildren in southeastern Iran. Nutritional status of children was also associated with food security status of their households.

KEYWORDS:

• food insecurity
• Iran
• nutritional status
• schoolchildren

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

Acknowledgments

The authors extend their sincerest thanks to the children and their mothers for participating in this study, giving their time and perspectives on the issues under investigation.

Funding

The project has not received any financial support or grant from any research or academic institutes.

Additional information

Funding

The project has not received any financial support or grant from any research or academic institutes.