Investigating food insecurity measurement globally to inform practice locally: a rapid evidence review

Abstract

The objective of this review was to examine the methods used to measure food insecurity (FI) globally, to inform considerations relating to adopting a novel, or reviewing an existing, FI measurement approach in developed countries. Considerations for measurement are examined with particular applicability to the United Kingdom (UK) which has recently announced adoption of the US Household Food Security Survey Module (HFSSM) as an indicator to facilitate annual FI monitoring. This study uses a Rapid Evidence Assessment (REA) methodological approach to systematically review the literature on FI measurement and considers: geographical jurisdiction, methodological approach, sampling strategy, FI indicator(s) used, and implications for measurement. Results found that the majority of papers reviewed emanate from North America with the US Household Food Security Scale Module (HFSSM) and its various adapted forms being the most commonly reported indicator. FI is becoming a key concern within developed countries with a range of indicators being used to report on the severity of the issue. This paper provides a contribution to knowledge by: (i) identifying various approaches to FI measurement and commonalities of existing measurement approaches; (ii) providing a summation of the methodologies and findings of studies relating to FI measurement, and associated implications for measurement, (iii) providing a justification evidenced by the literature for the adoption of the HFSSM in the UK; and (iv) assessing the methodological usefulness of a REA review. Understanding the components of robust FI indicators and their effectiveness can help inform existing and novel measurement approaches to ensure that data collected on FI are meaningful and thereby useful to inform future policy work in this area. Paper type: Literature review Introduction Food insecurity (FI), defined as "a situation that exists when people lack secure access to sufficient amounts of safe and nutritious food for normal growth and development and an active and healthy life" [FAO 2017, 107], is often considered a developing world problem (Kneafsey et al. 2013). However, an increased research focus on identifying and understanding FI in developed countries such as Canada (e.g. Faught et al. 2017), Australia (e.g. Butcher et al. 2018), the United States (US) (e.g. Bowen et al. 2019) and the UK (e.g. Dowler and Lambie-Mumford 2015), has proved this phenomenon is not exclusive to developing nations. Despite acknowledging the gap between the scale and severity of those living in developing market economies who experience severe poverty, hunger and starvation, and those defined as food insecure who live in 'developed market economies', Riches (2011, 769) rationalises the importance of discussing food insecurity in developed market economies on the same level as that in developing countries as the statistics are cause for concern, with 49 million people in the US defined as food insecure, and 43 million at risk of food insecurity in the EU (Riches 2011).Originally, th...

The Measurement of Food Insecurity in High-Income Countries: A Scoping Review

“…Some studied its correlates: sociodemographics [ 40 , 58 , 59 ], age [ 52 ], health, social and poverty stressors [ 35 ] and self-confidence in resource management [ 47 ]; disparities based on gender [ 38 , 42 , 48 ], race [ 46 ] or region [ 36 ]; its health consequences [ 44 , 53 , 57 , 62 ]; and the impact of different policies and strategies [ 43 , 45 , 49 , 54 , 55 , 56 , 63 ]. The literature reviews’ objective was primarily to identify measurement tools available [ 16 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 60 ], although one of them also reviewed studies about food insecurity and environmental correlates [ 64 ], and another focused on gender disparities [ 61 ].…”

“…The measurement of food insecurity is essential to monitor the prevalence, risk factors, consequences and effects of food insecurity and the interventions and policies implemented to tackle it. Yet, how best to apply it remains an unsettled issue mainly due to the multifaceted and context-dependent nature of food insecurity [ 16 , 19 , 21 , 22 ]. In recent years, several reviews of food insecurity measurement in high-income countries have been published in the literature [ 16 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 ].…”

“…Yet, how best to apply it remains an unsettled issue mainly due to the multifaceted and context-dependent nature of food insecurity [ 16 , 19 , 21 , 22 ]. In recent years, several reviews of food insecurity measurement in high-income countries have been published in the literature [ 16 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 ]. With some differences in the objective of their study, databases and date of the search, as well as data retrieved, their results show how currently food insecurity is mostly assessed through multiple item questionnaires.…”

Food Insecurity Measurement: Stakeholder Comparisons of the EU-SILC and HFSSM Indicators and Considerations Towards the Usefulness of a Headline Indicator

“…A six-item version of the HFSSM has also been used, as have other shorter adaptations or modifications of the module, e.g. adaptations for different cultures, modification of the recall period, or rapid approaches to measurement using just two of the HFSSM questions (Beacom et al, 2020;Knowles et al, 2016).…”

“…Food insecurity has been defined as "the inability to acquire or consume an adequate quality or sufficient quantity of food in socially acceptable ways, or the uncertainty that one will be able to do so" (Radimer et al, 1992, p. 39). To date various indicators have been used to approximate food insecurity in both developing and developed countries (Beacom et al, 2020). Food insecurity has been measured annually in the US since 1995 (Rafiei et al, 2009) and in Canada since 2004 (Tarasuk, 2016) using standardised indicators.…”