COVID-19 on Food Insecurity in Hispanic/Latino Essential and Non-essential Workers

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Socioeconomic Determinants of Health
• Epidemiology

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic's economic impact disproportionately affects Hispanic/Latino communities, particularly those in essential industries.
• These communities face heightened vulnerability to food insecurity due to job precarity and economic instability.
• Understanding differential impacts is crucial for public health interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate if the COVID-19 pandemic affected food security status differently among Hispanic/Latino essential versus non-essential workers in the U.S.
• To identify specific vulnerabilities within the Hispanic/Latino population related to employment status during the pandemic.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional survey (COVID-19 Latino health survey) was administered in-person and virtually.
• Bivariate analyses and chi-square tests were employed to assess the association between essential worker status and food security changes.
• Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05.

Main Results:

• Out of 869 respondents, 45% were essential workers; 55% were non-essential workers.
• Essential workers reported higher rates of food insecurity (54%) and increased food insecurity during the pandemic (35%) compared to non-essential workers (22%).
• A statistically significant difference (p < 0.001) in food insecurity status was observed between essential and non-essential Hispanic/Latino workers.

Conclusions:

• The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated food insecurity among Hispanic/Latino essential workers.
• There is an urgent need for comprehensive food policies to address food availability challenges for this demographic.
• Addressing the unique pandemic-related challenges faced by Hispanic/Latino essential workers is critical for improving health and well-being.