Food insecurity and food access among seniors in Lubbock, Texas

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of food insecurity and examine relationships between food security and a variety of food access factors influencing food access among 186 seniors in Lubbock, Texas. Socio-demographic, economic and food security, such as coping strategies, data were analyzed on IBM SPSS, version 23. The prevalence of food insecurity was 40.2%. Significant positive relationships were observed between food insecurity and food and nutrition assistance participation and also all the coping strategies. Age, household income and money spent on food per month were predictors of food security (R² = 0.233; p < 0.000; SEE = 4.462). Suitable food and nutrition intervention strategies are needed to address food insecurity.

KEYWORDS:

• Seniors
• food insecurity
• food
• nutrition

Acknowledgments

We hereby acknowledge the elderly care centres’ and Meals on Wheels’ management and respondents in this study. We also wish to acknowledge Ziaul H Rana, Gifty Sienso, and Chanasa Anokwuru for their valuable assistance in data collection.

Additional information

Funding

This research  was funded by Texas Tech University.