Work

The Impacts of Programs and Policies to Address Food Insecurity: An Analysis of Change in Income

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: This paper examines hunger over time to analyze how food insecurity is impacted by reduced income, including household funding from the government. Federal policies and community-based programs have the ability to prevent increases in food insecurity, particularly for populations that have risk factors, such as households with children; single-parent households; low-income households, especially those in rural areas; Black and Hispanic households; and, households experiencing economic hardships. METHODS: = 308) and multinomial logistic mixed effect models were used to analyze the association between change in household hunger and change in household income. RESULTS: This study found that participants who experienced decreased income compared to no income change from baseline to follow-up had 2.16 times the odds (95% CI: 1.05, 4.46) of experiencing increased household hunger compared to no change in hunger from baseline to follow-up, after adjusting for all other covariates. CONCLUSIONS: Food insecurity in the United States remained stable during the beginning of COVID-19, despite prevalence of reduced household income. The expanded government benefits that were implemented early in the pandemic contributed to total household income, which prevented increased food insecurity. Increased food insecurity after the removal of benefits starting in 2022 indicates the importance of continuing support established during times when consistent income is compromised to prevent a delayed rise in food insecurity.

Source: Nutrients

DOI: 10.3390/nu17010154

Authors: Eva Nelson, Jacqueline Milton Hicks, Lok Hang Kristina Keung, Elizabeth Rhoads, Jemima Mascary, Jacey A. Greece

Institution: Boston University

Language: English

Topic: Food Security and Health in Diverse Populations

Subfield: General Health Professions

Field: Health Professions

Domain: Health Sciences

SDGs: No poverty, Reduced inequalities, Good health and well-being, Zero hunger

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,296