Association of Vision Impairment With Food Insecurity in U.S. Children
View abstract on PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.Children with vision impairment (VI) face a significantly higher risk of household food insecurity (FI). This study highlights the need for integrated support and screening for families with children experiencing VI.
Area Of Science
- Public Health
- Pediatrics
- Ophthalmology
Background
- Vision impairment (VI) in children can impact family well-being.
- Food insecurity (FI) is a critical public health concern affecting children's development.
- Understanding the link between child VI and household FI is essential for targeted interventions.
Purpose Of The Study
- To investigate the association between caregiver-reported VI in children and household food insecurity (FI) in a U.S. national sample.
- To determine if children with VI are more likely to experience increased severity of household FI.
- To provide evidence for integrated care strategies for affected families.
Main Methods
- Cross-sectional study using data from the National Survey of Children's Health (2021-2023).
- Analysis included 153,285 children (0-17 years), representing over 209 million U.S. children.
- Survey-weighted multivariable logistic and ordinal regression models adjusted for sociodemographic factors.
Main Results
- Households with a child with VI had 71% higher odds of food insecurity (aOR, 1.71).
- These households also had 77% higher odds of experiencing more severe food insecurity (proportional aOR, 1.77).
- Associations remained significant after adjusting for income, education, and other socioeconomic factors.
Conclusions
- Childhood VI is significantly associated with increased likelihood and severity of household FI.
- Families with children with VI represent a high-risk population for food insecurity.
- Routine FI screening in pediatric and ophthalmology settings is recommended, alongside integrated social and medical support policies.
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