Publication year
2016
Citation Title
Prevalence of food insecurity among military households with children 5 years of age and younger
Journal Name
Public Health Nutrition
Journal Volume
19
Issue Number
13
Page Numbers
2458-2466
DOI
10.1017/s1368980016000422
Summary
Access to proper nutrition in military families is important for improved military readiness. Researchers surveyed 248 households in order to describe the presence of food insecurity (i.e., having limited availability of nutritionally adequate, affordable foods) in military families. Results revealed that one in seven military families experienced food insecurity.
Key Findings
Among Service member participants, 15% reported their families experienced food insecurity.
Heads of household who were single were three and a half times more likely to report food insecurity than those who were married.
All food-insecure households were headed by junior enlisted and non-commissioned officers. No warrant officers, company grade officers, or general officers reported experiencing food insecurity.
Military families who were food insecure had a fewer adults and more children living in that household.
Implications for Program Leaders
Tailor efforts toward households of junior enlisted and non-commissioned officers to reduce their elevated risk of food insecurity
Disseminate information about current community and government supplemental food programs that provide resources to improve accessibility to food sources for military families who are food insecure
Engage Service members and their families in cooking and budgeting classes that aim to increase food security
Implications for Policy Makers
Continue to support community programs that work to reduce food security among military families
Recommend partnerships between military-based and community-based programs to improve awareness of those who may be at greatest risk for food insecurity in the military population
Encourage professional development courses for military and community providers about unique factors that contribute to food insecurity in military families
Methods
Adult participants were recruited from child development centers located on a military installation in Texas that provide services to children five years old or younger.
Data were collected via surveys, which included questions related to demographic variables, household characteristics, household composition, and food insecurity.
The relationship between food insecurity, demographics of the head of household, household characteristics, and number of children in the household were analyzed.
Participants
Active Duty participants included 19 junior enlisted officers, 132 non-commissioned officers, 12 warrant officers, and 18 general officers.
Of the Service members, 49% were White, 20% Latino, 17% were Black and 14% were other races.
The sample had an average age of 33 years (range: 19-57 years).
Limitations
Only Service members from one military installation were surveyed therefore results may not extend to the whole military population.
Service members self-reported the survey and they may underreport food insecurity.
The study included only Active-Duty families, which could affect the generalizability of the results because National Guard and Reserve families were not included.
Avenues for Future Research
Replicate this study with a larger sample size throughout different military branches and installations
Study current programs to determine their efficacy with food insecurity prevention in military families
Explore risk and resiliency factors in military families who experience food insecurity
Focus
Multiple Branches
Target Population
Population Focus
Military Branch
Military Component
Abstract
Food insecurity increases risk of health conditions that may decrease military readiness. The aim of the present study was to define the prevalence of food insecurity among households with young children utilizing military installation childcare facilities and to describe household characteristics associated with food insecurity among this population. Cross-sectional survey including demographic questions and the US Department of Agriculture Food Security Survey Module six-item short form given to households (n 248) enrolled in Joint Base San Antonio Child Development Centers (JBSA-CDC) during the spring of 2015. Department of Defense families with at least one child less than 6 years old enrolled in a JBSA-CDC. Joint Base San Antonio, TX, USA. Nearly one in seven families reported food insecurity. Households were more likely to be food-insecure if the head of household’s highest level of education was high school or equivalent (P=0·003) and if the head of household was unmarried/unpartnered (P=0·001). Among food-insecure households headed by military service members, all were junior enlisted or non-commissioned officers (E1–E9). Food-insecure households were less likely to live off-post in owned or rented homes compared with those who were food-secure (P=0·016). Other characteristics associated with food insecurity included at least one family member enrolled in the Exceptional Family Member Program (P=0·020) and more children in the household (P=0·029). Few families reported enrolment in government supplemental food programmes. Food insecurity is prevalent in military families. Targeted interventions and policies can be developed using the demographic risk factors identified in the present study.
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