Research Brief
Food Insecurity and Food Supplies in Latino Households with Young Children

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Abstract

Objective

To examine the relationship between food insecurity and food supplies in Latino households.

Design

Cross-sectional survey, conducted February to May 2001.

Setting

Six California counties.

Participants

Convenience sampling was used to recruit 274 low-income Latino families with preschool children from the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC), Head Start, and other community-based organizations. Complete data were available for 256 families.

Variables Measured

Food security, household food scores.

Analysis

Pearson correlations, Kruskal-Wallis test, and logistics regression. Significance level at P < .05.

Results

Controlling for maternal education, food insecurity over the past 3 months was associated with lower household food supplies: dairy, r = −.18, P < .01; fruit, r = −.36, P < .001; grains, r = −.27, P < .0001; meats, r = −.22, P < .001; snack foods, r = −.23, P < .001; and vegetables, r = −.29, P < .001.

Conclusions and Implications

In Latino households, greater food insecurity is associated with a lower variety of most foods, particularly fruits and vegetables. Future research in Latino households should explore the effects of seasonal food insecurity and household food shortages on food intake of individual household members, especially young children.

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    The more the educated household head is the more food secure the household will be and vice versa. The results of this study are consistent with (Amaza et al., 2006; Asghar and Muhammad, 2013; Bashir et al., 2013a, 2012; Gebre, 2012; Idrisa et al., 2008; Kaiser et al., 2003; Makombe et al., 2010). The PSLM Survey 2015 indicated that there is an improvement in the literacy rate to 60% from 58% last year.

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This study was funded by the University of California at Davis Economic Research Program Small Grants Program and the University of California Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources.

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