The State of Food Insecurity and Its Relationship with the Physical and Mental Health of the Elderly (Sanandaj, 2019)

Food insecurity is defined as limited or uncertain access to adequate and healthy food in terms of nutrition or limited ability to obtain food in socially acceptable ways, which can affect the health of the elderly. The aim of this research is to investigate the state of food insecurity and the factors affecting it and its role in physical and mental health in the elderly.

This cross-sectional study was conducted on 550 elderly people aged 60 years and older who referred to 10 health centers in Sanandaj, and were selected via random cluster sampling. Demographic information questionnaire, HFIAS food security questionnaire (8 questions with a score range of 0 to 24) and Goldberg General Health Questionnaire (28 questions with 4 subscales) were completed and reviewed.

In this study, 324 elderly women and 224 men were evaluated, 75.6% were married and 73.6% were illiterate. The findings showed that 59.1% (325 people) of the elderly had some degree of food insecurity and severe insecurity was observed in 62 people (11.3%). Food insecurity in people with moderate to severe physical symptoms (OR=7.33), anxiety and sleep disorder (OR=8.63), functional disorder (OR=6.78), depression (OR=21.12) and in general, moderate to severe general health disorder (OR=11.85) was seen more. In addition, food insecurity, not being married, being illiterate, living alone, and low income were observed to a greater extent in women.

The results of the study showed that the prevalence of food insecurity among the elderly in Sanandaj is significant and is related to factors such as general, physical and mental health disorders.