title: Maternal resources and household food security: evidence from Nicaragua.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Women (especially mothers) are theorized as critical to reducing household food insecurity through their work and caregiver roles. The present study tests these assumptions, assessing how maternal economic and social resources are associated with food insecurity in households with young children.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data from a population-based sample of households was collected in León, Nicaragua (n 443). Data include a newly validated measure of household food insecurity (ELCSA), maternal resource measures, and household economic status and demographics. Regression analysis tests the statistical associations (P<0·05) of maternal resources with household, adult-specific and child-specific food insecurity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Municipality of León, Nicaragua.
  
  
  METHODS
  Households with children aged 3-11 years in rural and urban León.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Only 25% of households with young children were food secure, with 50% mildly food insecure and 25% moderately/severely food insecure. When mothers contributed substantially to household income, the odds of moderate/severe household food insecurity were 34% lower than when their spouse/partner was the main provider. The odds of food insecurity were 60% lower when mothers managed household money, 48% lower when mothers had a secondary (v. primary) education, 65% higher among single mothers and 16% lower with each indicator of social support. Results were similar for adult- and child-specific food insecurity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This research provides new evidence that maternal economic and social resources are important for reducing household food insecurity and adult- and child-specific food insecurity. Women's social status, social support and access to economic resources need to be enhanced as a part of policies aimed to reduce food insecurity in high-poverty settings.
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Sociology,The Ohio State University,238 Townshend Hall,1885 Neil Avenue Mall,Columbus,OH 43210,USA.
authors.forename: Kammi K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Schmeer
authors.affiliation: 2Department of Anthropology,The Ohio State University,Columbus,OH,USA.
authors.forename: Barbara A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Piperata
authors.affiliation: 3Centro de Investigación en Demografía y Salud (CIDS),Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Nicaragua - León (UNAN-León),León,Nicaragua.
authors.forename: Andrés
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Herrera Rodríguez
authors.affiliation: 3Centro de Investigación en Demografía y Salud (CIDS),Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Nicaragua - León (UNAN-León),León,Nicaragua.
authors.forename: Virgilio Mariano
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Salazar Torres
authors.affiliation: 3Centro de Investigación en Demografía y Salud (CIDS),Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Nicaragua - León (UNAN-León),León,Nicaragua.
authors.forename: Francisco José
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Centeno Cárdenas
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004032:Diet / Q000191:economics*; D004522:Educational Status; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005523:Food Supply / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D009035:Mothers; D009527:Nicaragua; D011203:Poverty; D012307:Risk Factors; D012424:Rural Population; D015406:Single Parent; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014505:Urban Population
keywords: Child well-being; Food insecurity; Gender; Latin America; Poverty