Food insecurity: experience in a tertiary health center in Turkey

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Pediatric Healthcare
• Sociology

Background:

• Food insecurity is a growing concern affecting family health and well-being.
• Understanding the prevalence of food insecurity in clinical settings is crucial for targeted interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the prevalence of food insecurity among families attending a hospital's pediatric polyclinic.
• To identify the sociodemographic characteristics associated with food insecurity in these families.

Main Methods:

• A survey adapted from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Household Food Security Survey Module was used.
• The survey comprised 18 questions administered to parents of pediatric patients.
• Data collection occurred over one month (September 2011) by a single researcher.

Main Results:

• A total of 283 families participated in the study.
• 29% of families were food secure, while 70.5% experienced borderline, moderate, or severe food insecurity.
• Mothers constituted the majority (73.5%) of survey respondents.

Conclusions:

• The study identified a significant prevalence of food insecurity in families presenting to the hospital.
• Further research with larger sample sizes and broader geographical scope is recommended to understand food insecurity in the country.