Food insecurity and its associated factors among pregnant women in Southwest Iran

Food security refers to the constant physical, social, and economic access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food to meet the dietary needs and preferences for a healthy and active life. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of food insecurity and the associated factors among pregnant women referring to public health centers in Ahvaz, Iran. This cross-sectional study was conducted on 692 pregnant women referring to public health centers in Ahvaz, Iran from April 2023 to May 2024, using multi-stage sampling method. Six health centers were randomly selected. Data was collected using a demographic questionnaire and the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFLAS). Data was analyzed using chi-square, one-way ANOVA, Post-hoc Tukey test, linear logistic regression, and multiple logistic regression. P-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. The prevalence of food insecurity in pregnant women was 48.4%. Age (women and husband), husband's job, education, gravidity, parity, abortion, live child, and type of family (nuclear or extended) had a significant relationship with food insecurity. According to the multiple logistic regression results, significant associations were found between food insecurity and abortion, live child, and husband's education. Furthermore, poor and moderate economic status was associated with a 5-fold increase in food insecurity (OR = 5.016, 95% CI 3.141-8.008, P < 0.001) compared to good economic status. Given the high prevalence of food insecurity among pregnant women, influenced by factors such as pregnancy status, demographics, husband's education, and crucially, family economic status, it is imperative that policymakers prioritize this issue during prenatal care. Strategies should be implemented to mitigate food insecurity and improve overall societal economic conditions.