Predictors and outcomes of household food insecurity among inner city families with preschool children in Vancouver.
OBJECTIVE
The purposes of this study were to measure household food security and to determine its association with potential predictor variables related to household and community environments, as well as the relationship between household food insecurity and preschool children's nutritional status.


METHODS
In this cross-sectional study, household food security was measured in a convenience sample of households (n=142) with children aged 2-5 years in Vancouver in March 2004. We assessed the association between environmental predictors and household food security status, adjusted for household income. Indicators of children's nutrition were compared between categories of household food security.


RESULTS
Household food insecurity was associated with indicators of suboptimal health status in preschoolers. After controlling for household income, parents with less access to food of reasonable quality, fewer kitchen appliances and a lower rating of their cooking skills had greater odds of experiencing household food insecurity.


CONCLUSIONS
Our study results support the need to test interventions involving collaborative efforts among government, social planners and public health practitioners to remove barriers to food security for families. Multiple measures, including opportunities to gain practical food skills and household resources that enable convenient preparation of nutrient-dense foods, could be examined. Our findings suggest the need for improved selection and quality at existing small stores and an increase in the number of food outlets in low-income neighbourhoods.
Broughton
Margaret A
MA
Health Care and Epidemiology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver. margaret_broughton@telus.net
Janssen
Patricia S
PS
Hertzman
Clyde
C
Innis
Sheila M
SM
Frankish
C James
CJ
D001955:British Columbia / Q000453:epidemiology; D002664:Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003296:Cooking / Q000295:instrumentation; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D005523:Food Supply / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D006815:Hunger; D007182:Income; D008297:Male; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D009753:Nutritive Value; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D014504:Urban Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*