An Evaluation of Food Insecurity and Its Correlates in a Filipino American Study Sample Residing in Clark County, Nevada

Abstract

Purpose: Filipino Americans comprise over half of the Asian American population in Clark County, Nevada. Despite their large numbers, food insecurity rates are aggregated with the entire Asian American population. In 2016, 1.6% of Asian American households in Clark County were food insecure, yet, 22% of households reported annual incomes at or below 200% of the federal poverty level. This study aimed to assess the status and correlates of food insecurity specific to Filipino Americans in Clark County, Nevada. Methods: The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Short Form Food Security Module was administered among 192 Filipino Americans residing in Clark County, NV. Results were viewed through the theoretical framework of the Social Ecological Model. Results: 27.1% of respondents experienced food insecurity within the past year. Adjusted logistic regression revealed that incomes less than $20,000 (odds ratio [OR] = 4.13, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.43-11.9), having no health insurance (OR = 5.22, 95% CI: 1.67-16.34), and eating mainly American or Western foods (OR = 7.3, 95% CI: 1.73-30.77) were significant predictors of food insecurity. Conclusions: A significantly higher prevalence of food insecurity among Filipino American subpopulations, compared to the estimates for Asian Americans in Clark County, suggests the need to disaggregate data for Asian American subgroups. The Social Ecological Model provides greater context to the findings identifying that the intrapersonal and policy level factors were associated with food insecurity among our participants, thus suggesting the need to utilize multilevel interventions to address food insecurity in Filipino Americans. The findings may be utilized to inform future interventions aimed at improving the overall health and food security among Filipino Americans.

‘If I knew more… I would feel less worried’: Filipino Americans’ Attitudes and Knowledge of Genetic Disease, Counseling, and Testing

“…Participants’ belief in “God’s will” exemplified their willingness to accept the outcome of life circumstances and stems from Filipino Americans’ intertwined identity of Catholicism and Filipino culture. The belief in “God’s will” is consistent with previous research that found this belief helped Filipino American breast cancer survivors cope with adverse life circumstances [27]. This may have implications for Filipinos who are religious, regarding their perceptions of control and utility or outcomes of genetic testing.…”

“…Food insecurity and poverty in the Philippines were described as a factor to prevent access to healthy food options. This finding may also translate to a US context, where Filipino Americans experience a significantly higher prevalence of food insecurity compared to Asian Americans as a whole [28]. This emerging theme serves as further evidence to disaggregate data for Asian American subgroups, such as Filipinos.…”