Prevalence and correlates of food insecurity in Inuit communities

Limited information is available on food security prevalence in Inuit populations. The majority of research is limited to a small number of communities. Under the International Polar Year, a cross-sectional Inuit Health Survey was conducted which included 2595 adults from 36 Inuit communities. Infor...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Huet, Catherine
Other Authors: Grace Egeland Hovda (Supervisor)
Format: Thesis
Language:English
Published: McGill University 2011
Subjects:
Online Access:http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=97113
Description
Summary:Limited information is available on food security prevalence in Inuit populations. The majority of research is limited to a small number of communities. Under the International Polar Year, a cross-sectional Inuit Health Survey was conducted which included 2595 adults from 36 Inuit communities. Information on community, household, individual and dietary characteristics was collected throughout interviews and clinical assessments. Food security status of households and adults was measured using the USDA food security survey module. Overall, 33.6% of households were moderately food insecure and 29.1% were severely food insecure. Household crowding, low education and income, Healthy Eating Index scores (P≤0.001) and other dietary characteristics were associated with increased risk of food insecurity. Peu d'informations sont disponibles sur la prévalence de la sécurité alimentaire chez la population inuite. Limitées à quelques communautés inuites, aucune étude ne rapporte la prévalence pour l'ensemble du Nord canadien. Durant l'Année Polaire Internationale, l'enquête transversale Inuit Health Survey a été réalisée dans 36 communautés inuites (2595 participants). Des informations sur les caractéristiques communautaires, domestiques, individuelles et alimentaires ont été recueillies au moyen d'entrevues et de mesures cliniques. Le niveau de sécurité alimentaire des ménages et des adultes a été mesuré avec le questionnaire sur la sécurité alimentaire provenant du United States Department of Agriculture. Chez les ménages, 33,6% vivaient en insécurité alimentaire modérée et 29,1% en insécurité alimentaire sévère. La surpopulation des ménages, le niveau de scolarité, le revenu, le score du Healthy Eating Index (P≤0.001) ainsi que d'autres caractéristiques alimentaires ont été associées à l'augmentation du risque d'insécurité alimentaire.