The association between language use and food insecurity among Hispanic adults residing in the USA depends on nativity

Exploring Sociodemographic and Chronic Disease Factors Associated With Chronic, Seasonal, Intramonthly, and Intermittent Presentations of Food Security Instability

BACKGROUND

Food insecurity impacts 13.5 million US households yearly. Although food security instability (FS-I) can have many temporal presentations, these are not measured in the current US Household Food Security Survey Module.

OBJECTIVE

Explore sociodemographic and chronic disease correlates of 4 FS-I types (chronic, seasonal, intramonthly, and intermittent) using a 3-item US Household Food Security Survey Module instability supplement.

DESIGN

This study was a secondary analysis of cross-sectional survey pilot data collected to validate the US Household Food Security Survey Module instability supplement.

PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING

Adults at risk for food insecurity (n = 420) were recruited and answered the survey on their households' behalf from April to June 2021. The participants were recruited from 7 community organizations from 5 states (California, Florida, Maryland, North Carolina, and Washington).

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The main outcomes were the odds of having a chronic, seasonal, intramonthly, or intermittent FS-I score ≥1 based on several sociodemographic factors and having ≥1 chronic disease.

STATISTICAL ANALYSES PERFORMED

Differences among the 4 FS-I types were analyzed using contingency tables and χ2 tests of independence. Then, mixed-effects logistic binary and conditional regressions were run for each FS-I type using clustering by state and odds ratios and 95% CI to interpret results.

RESULTS

The most common FS-I type experienced by the sample was intramonthly (n = 183 [43%]). Nonchronic food insecurity was most likely to happen during the winter, at the end of the month, or randomly with no certain time frame. FS-I in any form was associated with low income, chronic FS-I was associated with younger age and male sex, seasonal FS-I was associated with having no government-subsidized health insurance and females, intramonthly FS-I was associated with participation in nutrition assistance programs, and intermittent FS-I had lower odds among Hispanic/Latino households.

CONCLUSIONS

Further research is needed to explore other FS-I correlates and establish causative relationships; however, these results can be used with clinical judgment for targeted food insecurity screening and treatment.

Time-Trends in Food Insecurity Among US-Born and Foreign-Born Hispanic Adults by Language Use: An Analysis of National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey Data, 1999-2018

BACKGROUND

Historically, food insecurity prevalence has been higher in Hispanic households than in non-Hispanic White households. Food insecurity prevalence among Hispanic adults, US-born and foreign-born, may vary by language use.

OBJECTIVE

To explore whether or not the relationship between language use and food insecurity varied over time (1999-2018) among US-born and foreign-born Hispanic adults.

DESIGN

Trends analysis and multivariable logistic regression modeling using pooled cross-sectional data.

PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING

Fifteen thousand sixty-two Hispanic adults participating in the United States National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1999-2018).

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Food insecurity prevalence, assessed with the US Household Food Security Survey Module.

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS

Unadjusted food insecurity trends from 1999 to 2018 by language use (mostly English, both languages equally, or mostly Spanish) among US-born and foreign-born Hispanic adults were analyzed using piecewise-linear regression of log prevalence rates. Multivariable logistic regression models adjusted for sociodemographic characteristics and with an interaction term between language use and time were used to determine if odds of food insecurity among US-born and foreign-born Hispanic adults varied by language use between 1999 and 2018.

RESULTS

Hispanic adults' food insecurity prevalence followed an upward linear trend from 1999 to 2018; this was significant for US-born mostly English-speakers (P < 0.001), US-born mostly Spanish-speakers (P = 0.013), and foreign-born mostly Spanish-speakers (P < 0.001). In fully adjusted logistic regression models, foreign-born Hispanic adults who spoke both languages equally (odds ratio 1.8, 95% CI 1.2 to 2.6) and those who spoke mostly Spanish (odds ratio 1.9, 95% CI 1.4 to 2.8) had significantly higher food insecurity odds, compared with mostly English-speakers. No variations in associations across time were observed between language use and food insecurity (interaction P value > 0.1).

CONCLUSIONS

Hispanic adults' unadjusted food insecurity trends from 1999 to 2018 varied by language use. When adjusted for sociodemographic characteristics and compared with mostly English-speakers, food insecurity odds were significantly higher only among foreign-born Hispanic adults who spoke either both languages equally or mostly Spanish. Food assistance programs should linguistically adapt their services for Hispanic adults.