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Are our babies hungry? Food insecurity among infants in urban clinics

Mary Carol Burkhardt1, Andrew F Beck, Robert S Kahn

  • 1Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, 3333 Burnet Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA. mary.burkhardt@cchmc.org

Clinical Pediatrics
|November 25, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Food insecurity (FI) is prevalent in families with infants, even those receiving public benefits. Many caregivers stretch infant formula, with concerns about generic options impacting nutritional security.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Nutrition
  • Public Health Policy
  • Socioeconomic Factors in Health

Background:

  • Food insecurity (FI) is a significant public health issue, yet data specific to families with infants remain limited.
  • Understanding the prevalence and contributing factors of FI in this vulnerable population is crucial for targeted interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the prevalence of food insecurity among families with infants.
  • To assess the impact of public benefit programs (WIC, SNAP) on food insecurity.
  • To examine infant formula feeding practices, including resource-stretching strategies and perceptions of generic formula, and their relationship to anthropometric measurements.

Main Methods:

  • A cross-sectional survey was administered to 144 infant caregivers.
  • Food insecurity was assessed using the US Department of Agriculture's 6-item indicator set.
  • Data on public benefit utilization, formula feeding practices, and infant anthropometrics were collected.

Main Results:

  • Thirty-one percent of caregivers reported food insecurity.
  • Food insecurity was significantly higher among recipients of WIC and SNAP benefits (39%) compared to non-recipients (22%).
  • Fifteen percent of caregivers stretched infant formula, a practice more common in food-insecure households (27% vs. 9%). A majority (58%) expressed reluctance to use generic formula, with 50% believing it to be less equivalent than brand-name options. No significant association was found between FI and infant anthropometric measurements.

Conclusions:

  • Food insecurity and the practice of stretching infant formula are common, even among families utilizing public assistance programs.
  • Caregiver hesitancy towards generic formula highlights a potential barrier to nutritional resource optimization.
  • Further research is needed to address the unique challenges of food insecurity in infant-feeding families and to improve access to and acceptance of affordable nutritional options.
Abstract

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