Factors Associated with Continued Food Insecurity among Households Recovering from Hurricane Katrina

Lauren A. Clay, Mia A. Papas, Kimberly B. Gill and David M. Abramson
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Lauren A. Clay: Health Services Administration, D’Youville College, Buffalo, NY 14201, USA
Mia A. Papas: Christiana Care Health System, Value Institute, Wilmington, DE 19899, USA
Kimberly B. Gill: Disaster Research Center, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA
David M. Abramson: College of Global Public Health, New York University, New York, NY 10012, USA

IJERPH, 2018, vol. 15, issue 8, 1-10

Abstract: In 2010, 14.5% of US households experienced food insecurity, which adversely impacts health. Some groups are at increased risk for food insecurity, such as female-headed households, and those same groups are often also at increased risk for disaster exposure and the negative consequences that come with exposure. Little research has been done on food insecurity post-disaster. The present study investigates long-term food insecurity among households heavily impacted by Hurricane Katrina. A sample of 683 households participating in the Gulf Coast Child and Family Health Study were examined using a generalized estimation model to determine protective and risk factors for food insecurity during long-term recovery. Higher income (Odds Ratio (OR) 0.84, 95% Confidence Interval (CI) 0.77, 0.91), having a partner (OR 0.93; 95% CI 0.89, 0.97), or “other” race were found to be protective against food insecurity over a five-year period following disaster exposure. Low social support (OR 1.14; 95% CI 1.08, 1.20), poor physical health (OR 1.08; 95% CI 1.03, 1.13) or mental health (OR 1.13; 95% CI 1.09, 1.18), and female sex (OR 1.05; 95% CI 1.01, 1.10) were risk factors. Policies and programs that increase access to food supplies among high-risk groups are needed to reduce the negative health impacts of disasters.

Keywords: food insecurity; disaster; family health; Hurricane Katrina; mental health; physical health; social support (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (7)

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