Valid Food Security Classifications in the Caribbean
Author Information
Author(s): Gulliford Martin C, Nunes Cheryl, Rocke Brian
Primary Institution: King's College London
Hypothesis
Can the 18 Household Food Security Survey items be effectively used to classify food security status in Trinidad and Tobago?
Conclusion
The study supports the use of 18 HFSS items to classify food security status in Trinidad and Tobago, indicating higher food insecurity compared to the US.
Supporting Evidence
- 19% of adults were food insecure without hunger, 10% with moderate hunger, and 6% with severe hunger.
- 23% of children were food insecure without hunger and 9% with hunger.
- Food insecurity was strongly associated with lower monthly household income.
Takeaway
This study shows that many families in Trinidad and Tobago struggle to get enough food, and a special survey can help understand their situation better.
Methodology
A cross-sectional survey of primary school children in Trinidad and Tobago, where parents completed the HFSS.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to the self-administration of the questionnaire and the interpretation of the 'balanced meal' item.
Limitations
The study relied on self-reported data, which may introduce bias, and the item response theory models assume item independence.
Participant Demographics
Participants included 1850 boys and 2008 girls, aged 4 to 12 years, from various ethnic backgrounds.
Statistical Information
P-Value
<0.001
Confidence Interval
0.57 to 1.03
Statistical Significance
p<0.001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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