Food Security Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Longitudinal Evidence from a Cohort of Adults in Vermont during the First Year

Abstract

This study assessed changes in household food insecurity throughout the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic in a cohort of adults in the state of Vermont, USA, and examined the socio-demographic characteristics associated with increased odds of experiencing food insecurity during the pandemic. We conducted three online surveys between March 2020 and March 2021 to collect longitudinal data on food security, use of food assistance programs, and job disruptions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Food security was measured using the USDA six-item module. Among the 441 respondents, food insecurity rates increased significantly during the pandemic and remained above pre-pandemic levels a year after the start of the pandemic. Nearly a third (31.6%) of respondents experienced food insecurity at some point during the first year of the pandemic, with 53.1% of food-insecure households being classified as newly food-insecure. The odds of experiencing food insecurity during the pandemic varied based on socio-demographic factors. Households with children (OR 5.5, 95% CI 1.782–16.936, p < 0.01), women (OR 8.1, 95% CI 1.777–36.647, p < 0.05), BIPOC/Hispanic respondents (OR 11.8, 95% CI 1.615–85.805, p < 0.05), and households experiencing a job disruption (OR 5.0, 95% CI 1.583–16.005, p <0.01) had significantly higher odds of experiencing food insecurity during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, while respondents with a college degree (OR 0.08; 95% CI 0.025–0.246; p < 0.001) and household income of ≥USD 50,000 (OR 0.01; 95% CI 0.003–0.038; p < 0.001) had lower odds of experiencing food insecurity. These findings indicate that food insecurity continued to be a significant challenge one year after the start of the pandemic, which is important, given the adverse health impacts associated with food insecurity and health disparities among certain socio-demographic groups.

Household living conditions and food insecurity in Nigeria: a longitudinal study during COVID-19 pandemic

“… 35 36 Empirical findings support the premise that household food insecurity or poverty increases with large households 14 and those living in rural or remote areas. 16 It is also empirically recognised that socioeconomic factors such as the receipt of remittances, 37 assistance, 38–40 access to finances, 19 21 41–43 income 14 16 and consumption level 23 play a significant role in explaining household food insecurity. Additional evidence in the literature suggests that demographic information about the family head, such as age, gender, marital status, employment and health status, are important elements that explain household food security.…”

“…Additional evidence in the literature suggests that demographic information about the family head, such as age, gender, marital status, employment and health status, are important elements that explain household food security. In this regard, there are enough findings to suggest that the risk of being food insecure or experiencing food poverty increases for female-headed households, 14 39 44 household heads not having enough education, 14 16 those living with disabilities 21 and those that are unemployed. 14 …”

“…In this regard, there are enough findings to suggest that the risk of being food insecure or experiencing food poverty increases for female-headed households, 14 39 44 household heads not having enough education, 14 16 those living with disabilities 21 and those that are unemployed. 14 …”

“…Earlier studies obtained evidence of the socioeconomic and demographic factors that accounted for household food insecurity during the COVID-19 crisis. 14–21 To contribute to this growing knowledge, this study set out to answer the following research questions: (1) What is the prevalence rate of household food insecurity in Nigeria before and during the COVID-19 crisis? (2) What is the distribution of food insecurity by household living conditions in Nigeria?…”

How Does Consistency of Food and Nutrition Support Effect Daily Food Consumption among Children Living in Poverty? Recession-Era Implications

“…Economic recessions can drastically increase poverty, unemployment, and risk for food insecurity, adversely impacting healthy eating and nutrition environments, and exacerbating pre-existing health disparities [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]. The last big economic downturn, or the “Great Recession”, (2007 through 2009) was followed by a period of slow economic growth.…”