Food Insecurity and the Hispanic Population during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Rodrı́guez, Carmen; Crowder, Sylvia L.; Rodríguez, Mary; Redwine, Laura; Stern, Marilyn

doi:10.1080/03670244.2021.1974014

Cited by 28 publications

(27 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…Several studies show that moderate and severe food insecurity worldwide has increased due to the COVID-19 pandemic, for example, an increase of 17 million food insecure Americans has been projected in 2020 (4). The same occurred in the Latin American population, where moderate or severe food insecurity increased from 30.1 to 39.2% (5).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 70%

Food insecurity associated with self-reported mental health outcomes in Peruvian households during the COVID-19 pandemic

et al. 2022

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BackgroundThe global pandemic of COVID-19 and the social distancing efforts implemented worldwide to limit its spread have disrupted the economy, increased food insecurity, and mental health problems.ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to determine the association between food insecurity and mental health outcomes (stress, depression, and anxiety) in Peruvian households during the COVID-19 pandemic.Materials and methodsA cross-sectional investigation was conducted with 525 participants of both sexes (68% women), over 18 years of age and from the three geographic regions of Peru: Coast (54.9%), Highlands (28.4%), and Jungle (16.8%). The data were collected during the year 2021, between July 6 and September 22 through a self-administered online survey designed to assess socio-demographic, socioeconomic, food insecurity, and mental health outcomes (depression, anxiety, and stress).ResultsThe majority of households (71.4%) experienced some degree of food insecurity. Mild food insecurity was the most frequent, affecting 49.1%, followed by moderate 15.4%, and severe 6.9%. Regarding mental health outcomes, 24.8% manifested depression, 26.7% anxiety, and 15.3% stress. With respect to the association between the level of food insecurity and anxiety, this was highly significant (p < 0.01). Households with mild, moderate and severe food insecurity are 2.04, 4.5, and 10.44 times, respectively, more likely to have moderate-severe anxiety. On the other hand, the mild food insecurity was not associated with moderate-severe depression. In contrast, households with moderate and severe food insecurity are 2.8 and 5.7 times, respectively, more likely to have moderate-severe depression. Finally, households with moderate food insecurity are 5.9 times more likely to have moderate-severe stress, and households with severe food insecurity are 8.5 times more likely to have moderate-severe stress, both having a highly significant association (p < 0.01).ConclusionIn conclusion, during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Peru, household food insecurity was independently associated with worse mental health outcomes. Monitoring of both food insecurity and mental health will be important as the COVID-19 pandemic continues.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 70%

Food insecurity associated with self-reported mental health outcomes in Peruvian households during the COVID-19 pandemic

et al. 2022

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“…Food security was identified to be associated with greater odds of a CAD diagnosis. The recent COVID-19 pandemic has increased disparities in health access and food security by almost double the amount pre-pandemic (currently estimated to be as high as 921 million food-insecure people) [ 63 , 64 , 65 ]. Nutritional insufficiencies and the resulting sequalae of disease due to inadequate diets and increased inflammation is, and will remain, a worldwide crisis.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Subclinical Vitamin C Plasma Levels Associated with Increased Risk of CAD Diagnosis via Inflammation: Results from the NHANES 2003–2006 Surveys

et al. 2023

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Vitamin C remains an important, yet frequently unassessed, component of a healthy immune system though it may prove useful in alleviating the chronic inflammatory processes underlying chronic diseases such as coronary artery disease (CAD). Recent research identified a sizeable proportion of the United States population with insufficient vitamin C plasma levels and significant associations to both acute and chronic inflammation. This cross-sectional study used the 2003–2006 NHANES surveys data to extrapolate associations between plasma vitamin C levels (deficiency, hypovitaminosis, inadequate, adequate, and saturating) and CAD through inflammation (C-reactive protein and red cell distribution width). Increased reports of CAD diagnosis were identified in participants with vitamin C deficiency (OR: 2.31, CI: 1.49–3.58) and inadequate plasma levels (OR: 1.39, CI: 1.03–1.87). No significant correlation was identified between any other plasma vitamin C quintiles and CAD. When inflammation was controlled, previous associations in the deficient level of plasma vitamin C were no longer significant in association with CAD and participants with inadequate plasma vitamin C showed a reduced association to CAD diagnoses (OR: 0.33, CI: 0.13-0.86). Most chronic inflammation and vitamin C plasma statuses do not demonstrate specific signs or symptoms until the deficient level of vitamin C and/or disease. Thus, increased surveillance of both, and healthy nutritional habits remain crucial modifiable risk factors for disease prevention.

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“…Latinos are at higher risk for COVID-19 infection and mortality compared to whites, and to experience poor pandemic-related mental health at higher rates than whites [13,15,16]. In addition, they are vulnerable to economic adversity including food insecurity, unemployment, and problems paying bills -all factors that contribute to poor mental health outcomes [17][18][19][20]. The goal of this study was to close a gap in the COVID-related scholarship on Latino mental health by using HPS data to identify which economic and demographic factors inform poor pandemic mental outcomes in this population group.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It found that knowing an undocumented immigrant and/or someone suffering COVID-19 escalated the probability of having a mental health problem by 52% [1]. Given the CDC's concerning findings linking age (18)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24)(25)(26)(27)(28)(29) to poor pandemic mental health outcomes, it is worth considering how COVID-19 may affect Latinos in particular [14]. As noted in one epidemiological study, approximately 59% of Latinos are aged less than 35 years compared with 46% of the remaining US population [14].…”

Section: Latino Mental Healthmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In addition to higher rates of COVID-related mortality and mental health adversity, recent studies suggest US Latinos have been disadvantaged by job losses due to COVIDrelated business closures, immigration status, and food insecurity [17,18]. A scoping review of the literature analyzing 37 studies published in 2020 identified risk factors for Latino social determinants of health including work in jobs considered essential, overcrowded housing, limited English proficiency, residing in areas of dense Latino populations, and being unable to engage in social distancing [19].…”

Section: Latino Mental Healthmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Household Financial Hardship Factors Are Strongly Associated with Poorer Latino Mental Health During COVID-19

Cleaveland

Frankenfeld

2022

J. Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities

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Background Latinos have suffered disproportionate adversity during the COVID-19 pandemic. Many studies have focused on comparing Latinos to other groups, potentially masking critical concerns within population. This study identifies potential pathways to poor mental health among Latinos during the pandemic. Methods Data from US Census Household Pulse Survey, covering April 23, 2020, to October 11, 2021, were analyzed. Ordinal logistic regression evaluated categorical frequencies of problems with anxiety, loss of interest, worry, and feeling down. Findings were stratified by gender, poverty status, metropolitan location, and work. Demographic, household, financial, and work covariates were mutually adjusted, and jackknife replications and population weights applied. Results Adverse mental health was common, with higher frequencies of 2 or more adverse mental health symptoms for at least several days in the prior 2 weeks (59.1-76.3%, depending on stratified group). Food insufficiency was strongly associated with adverse mental health symptoms across all characteristics. Odds ratios of often not having enough to eat compared to enough of foods wanted being associated with adverse mental health ranged from 2.6 to 6.56 (depending on stratified group). Difficulty with expenses was also strongly associated with adverse mental health across characteristics, with odds ratios very difficult compared to not at all ranging from 2.7 to 7.7 (depending on stratified group). Conclusion These observations suggest household financial hardship factors influence mental health regardless of other personal characteristics, and this could inform services for Latinos. Targeted programs to ensure food sufficiency and income may be necessary to improve mental health in US Latinos.

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Food Insecurity and the Hispanic Population during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Cited by 28 publications

References 9 publications

Food insecurity associated with self-reported mental health outcomes in Peruvian households during the COVID-19 pandemic

Food insecurity associated with self-reported mental health outcomes in Peruvian households during the COVID-19 pandemic

Subclinical Vitamin C Plasma Levels Associated with Increased Risk of CAD Diagnosis via Inflammation: Results from the NHANES 2003–2006 Surveys

Household Financial Hardship Factors Are Strongly Associated with Poorer Latino Mental Health During COVID-19

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