ABSTRACT
This study investigates the prevalence of household food insecurity and child hunger during the COVID-19 pandemic, alongside the relationships between household income and the occurrence of child hunger. Socio-demographic characteristics, including monthly household income, gender, and age of the surveyed child were parent-reported. The validated 10-item Radimer/Cornell Hunger and Food Insecurity Instrument was adopted to assess household food insecurity, parental food insecurity, and child hunger during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study revealed that children from low-income and food-insecure households were significantly at a heightened risk for child hunger. In conclusion, the pandemic lockdowns exacerbated child hunger in low-income households. Children from low-income households need continued assistance in alleviating hunger during the COVID-19 global economic recession.
SUMMARY
During MCO 2.0, the overall food insecurity was 67.6%, with 24.1% household food insecurity, 13.8% parental food insecurity, and 29.7% child hunger.
Children from low-income and food-insecure households were significantly at a heightened risk for child hunger.
Disclosure Statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.
Ethical Approval
Ethical approval was obtained from the Management and Science University Ethics Committee with a reference number MSU-RMC-02/FR01/02/L2/005.