Prevalence of household food insecurity in the City of Shiraz and its association with socio-economic and demographic factors, 2008

Food insecurity, as a major public health problem during the past two decades, has received the attention of population experts, scientists and policy-makers. In Iran, based on daily energy intake, 20.0% and 23.2% of households were food-insecure in 1996 and 2001, respectively. Studies have also shown that food insecurity is 99.2% among households under coverage of Imam Khomaini Relief Committee and 36.2% in the Asadabadi Region. So far, food insecurity has not been assessed directly at national, provincial or district levels. This study determined the prevalence of household food insecurity and some associated factors in the urban areas of Shiraz, Iran. Measurement of food insecurity and determining its determinants can help policy-makers in planning, monitoring and evaluating food security promotion program..

In this cross-sectional descriptive-analytical study, 778 households from the urban areas of Shiraz were selected by the multi-stage cluster sampling method. Demographic and socio-economic data were collected using standard questionnaires; household food security was assessed on the basis of the USDA 18-item questionnaire. Factor analysis and the Chi-square test were used for socio- economic status criteria determination and data description, while one-way ANOVA and ordinal and linear logistic regression were used for data analysis and identifying the associated and predictive factors. The software used was SPPS 14.

The prevalence of household food insecurity was 44% (food insecurity without hunger 27.8%, and food insecurity with moderate and severe hunger 14.4 and 1.8, respectively). Food insecurity was greater in female-headed families, those with a larger number of children, or those with children under 18 years old (P=0.05). It was positively associated with socio-economic status (P=0.0001). Based on the final ordinal logistic regression, predicting factors for food insecurity were children under 18 years old in the family)CI95%:1.28-2.34, OR:1.73), low socio-economic status (CI95%:6.36-14.44, OR:9.56), and responder (mothers) (CI95%1.01-2.83, OR:1.7).

Household food insecurity exists in Shiraz. Having children under 18 years old in the family and low socio-economic status are the most important causes of household food insecurity. Policies and programs, such as promotion of socio-economic status, and approaches to promote the situation of under 18-year old children, such as school lunch programs, can help reduce food insecurity.