Economic Inequality during Covid-19 as a Pathway to Food Insecurity for People who are Disabled and Racialized as Non-White

Covid-19 heightened economic inequality across the U.S., especially for people who are disabled and non-white. These intersecting economic vulnerabilities open pathways to hunger. Using a survey from July 2020 (n = 2,043) in the Intermountain West, we find that economic inequality explained a substantial portion of food insecurity for people with disabilities. Racially stratified models show that people who were also non-white were more likely to be food insecure and receive differential protection from economic resources. Stronger social support will help mitigate food insecurity, yet such programs must grapple with the ways that ableism and racism intersect, especially during economic shock.Copyright © 2022 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.

Food Insecurity and COVID-19 Diagnosis: Findings from a National United States Sample

This study explores the association between experiencing food insecurity and COVID-19 diagnosis in the United States, and what sociodemographic characteristics moderate this relationship. We analyzed a national sample of adults in the United States (n = 6,475). Multiple logistic regression results revealed respondents experiencing food insecurity had an approximately 3.0 times significantly higher odds of a positive COVID-19 diagnosis (odds ratio [OR] = 2.95, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.38-6.32, p < 0.01), which remained significant after adjusting for sociodemographics and COVID-19 mitigation behaviors (OR = 2.59, 95% CI = 1.09-6.18, p < 0.05). Age group had a significant moderating effect (OR = 42.55, 95% CI = 3.13-579.15, p < 0.01). Results indicate experiencing food insecurity is associated with contracting COVID-19.Copyright © 2022 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.

Using Community-Based Implementation Frameworks and Strategies to Address Food Insecurity During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Scoping Review

This scoping review aims to describe the main barriers to food security imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic in low-income U.S. households, identify effective community-based implementation frameworks and strategies, and discuss the lessons learned from implementing community-based approaches during the COVID-19 pandemic. Most cited barriers were categorized into the Community/Society-Policy category of "Social determinants of health in communities." Out of the twelve included studies, only five (42%) adopted an implementation framework in their food-insecurity interventions. This study can guide the development and sustainability of food programming during emergencies with possible transfer of lessons learned to food programs in low-income populations.Copyright © 2022 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Food Insecurity in Puerto Rico

This survey (n = 1,356) reports food insecurity (FI) in Puerto Rico (PR) at 38% before, and 40% since, the COVID-19 pandemic. Odds for FI increased for households with annual income <=$15k vs. >=$60k (OR: 3.52;95% CI: 1.20, 10.36);experiencing an income reduction (OR: 2.22 (1.55, 3.18));participating in the United States Department of Agriculture Nutrition Assistance Program (OR: 1.75 (1.14, 2.70));higher food acquisition anxiety (OR: 1.45 (1.29, 1.64));increased home availability of fruit-flavored drinks (OR: 1.52 (1.04, 2.22)), whereas increased fruit availability was protective (OR: 0.63 (0.43, 0.93)). Results heighten the need to examine FI strategies in PR.Copyright © 2021 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.

Food and Nutrition Insecurity in Africa: The Primary Drivers and Sustainable Strategies to Improve the Current Status

Africa ranks second in the number of undernourished people globally and has the highest prevalence of food insecurity, twice the world's average. The continent could not meet the past Millennium Development Goals and targets for 2015, and the current projection shows that Africa is not on track to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 2 of Zero Hunger by 2030. Prospects for achieving these goals are dismal because of inherent primary drivers of food insecurity in each African region. This chapter identifies the primary drivers of food and nutrition insecurity in Africa and suggests strategies to attenuate its effect. Climate shocks (drought and flood) and insecurity are the primary agents driving food insecurity in Western, Central, and Southern Africa. Migratory pests (desert locusts) are a big challenge in Eastern and Southern Africa that have destroyed thousands of farmlands, while dependence on food subsidies, climate change, and political instability are the primary drivers of food insecurity in North Africa. In summary, the prevalence of food insecurity in Africa differs owing to the influence of food insecurity drivers in each region. Consequently, the COVID-19 widespread is expected to exacerbate Africa's current food insecurity. Sustainable strategies such as investing in the agricultural system through sustainable policies;reducing food prices;preventing localized desert locust outbreaks from attaining plague proportions and counterinsurgency;managing climate;and investing in food assistance in severe, catastrophic food insecurity that best fits each region would play a key role in mitigating food and nutrition insecurity in Africa. © The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2023.

Social Determinants of Health and Their Impact on Families of Children with Sickle Cell Disease during Covid-19 Pandemic

Background: According to national prevalence data, SCD has an estimated economic burden of $2.98 billion per year in the United States and caring for a child with sickle cell disease (SCD) carries its own financial burden, resulting in higher healthcare costs and unintended days lost from employment. Social experiences are known to impact health outcomes in the general pediatric population. These experiences can be examined through the construct of social determinants of health (SDOH), the "condition in which people are born, grow, work, live and age" that impact their health. Since the WHO has designated COVID-19 a pandemic in January 2020, many families in the US have suffered financially, and during the shutdowns, there was a record number of jobs lost. The objective of this study was to determine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on financial and employment status of SCD Families Methods: This study was part of the larger CNH Sickle Cell Disease Social Determinants of Health study that was IRB approved. Caregivers of children with SCD completed a 30-question survey reporting their experiences with SDOH that included Demographics, USDA Food Security Scale, the We Care housing screening tool, and the validated COVID-19 Employment Status/COVID-19 related household finances survey in RedCap during clinic visits and hospitalizations Results: 99 caregivers of SCD patients responded to our survey (82.5% Female, 17.5% Male) (N=97). 93.9% identified as African-American, 3% identified as Hispanic or Latinx, 1% identified as "other". Of respondents, 66% were insured through on Medicaid and 33% had private insurance. Twenty-six percent endorsed food insecurity and 2724% relied on low-cost food. Thirty-one percent lived in an apartment, 67.768% lived in a home, 1% lived in shelter or transitional housing. Sixteen percent lived in subsidized or public housing. Thirty-seven (36.8%) percent reported at least once they were being unable to pay the mortgage or rent on time at least once, 9% (8.5%) reported living with other people because of financial difficulties, 55.2% reported their home not being heated, 7.2% reported being evicted from their home and 3.1% lived in an emergency shelter or transitional housing. 6.1% had an educational level of high school graduation or less, 42.2% were college graduates or completed additional post-graduate education (N=98). Two weeks prior to the pandemic, 61.5% worked full time, 13.5% worked part time, 6.3% were unemployed with only 2.1% working from home of the 96 caregivers who responded to this question. 15.5% (N=12 of 77) reported losing their job or were furloughed during the pandemic;34.4% (N=33 of 96) reporting at least one household member losing a job or a significant amount of income. Twenty-five percent (N=21 of 83) reported it was difficult to get work/school done because of the home environment. 36.4 % (N=35 of 96) reported household income was significantly less since February 2020. 53% (N=52 of 97) worried their household income has been or will be negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, 48.9% (N=47 of 96) worried the value of their assets (housing, savings, other financial assets) has been or will be negatively impacted by COVID-19 and its effects. Since February 2020, 9.8% (N= 9 of 97) received unemployment insurance, 30.9% (N=29 of 94) received SNAP or food stamps, 16.5% (N= 15 of 91) received from the food pantry, 6.6% (N=6 of 90) applied for temp ass.

Agroecologia e segurança alimentar em tempos de pandemia de Covid-19

Este artigo tem por objetivo aprofundar o debate sobre a insegurança alimentar durante a pandemia da Covid-19, relatar a iniciativa social extensionista do Plantio Agroecológico Solidário (PAS) da Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina e o consequente impacto no acesso e distribuição de alimentos orgânicos em Florianópolis, SC, Brasil. No contexto da crise sanitária, com mais de 645.000 mortos por Covid-19 no Brasil, aliada à crise econômica, acentuaram-se as desigualdades sociais que aprofundaram o cenário de fome no país. O atual cenário pandêmico indica um momento singular para que a nossa sociedade possa repensar o direito global ao acesso a alimentos saudáveis e sobre qual modelo de agricultura se espera fomentar. A agricultura agroecológica é um modelo viável e necessário para a produção digna e consciente de alimentos, fornecendo mecanismos para a promoção da Soberania e Segurança Alimentar e Nutricional, através da democratização ao acesso a alimentos saudáveis e sem agrotóxicos.Alternate :This article aims it is contribute the debate on food insecurity during the COVID-19 pandemic, to report on the social extension initiative of the Solidarity Agroecological Planting (PAS) of the Federal University of Santa Catarina and the consequent impact on the access and distribution of organic food in Florianopolis, SC, Brazil. In the context of the health crisis, with more than 645,000 deaths from Covid-19 in Brazil, allied to the economic crisis, social inequalities were accentuated that deepened the hunger scenario in the country. The current pandemic scenario indicates a unique moment for our society to rethink the global right to access to healthy food and on which model of agriculture it is expected to promote. Agroecological agriculture is a viable and necessary model for the dignified and conscious production of food, providing mechanisms for the promotion Sovereignty and Food and Nutritional Security, through the democratization of access to healthy and pesticide-free food.

COVID-19 and Food Insecurity in Latin America and the Caribbean

The objective was to determine the prevalence of household food insecurity (FI) in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Secondary analysis was performed using the waves 1 to 3 of the 2020 COVID-19 High Frequency Phone Surveys in 13 LAC countries. The countries with the highest FI in the first wave were Honduras (60.3%), Peru (58.1%) and Ecuador (57.9%). Likewise, the countries with the greatest differences in the prevalence of FI between the first and last waves in percentage points (PP) were Peru (-29), Guatemala (-27.7) and Bolivia (-21.8). LAC countries face a great burden of FI.Copyright © 2022 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.

The association between food insecurity and social capital under the lockdowns in COVID-hit Shanghai

As an emergency, food insecurity threatens people's well-being, while social capital is expected to enhance their resilience in this situation. This study examined the relationship between food insecurity and social capital during the COVID-19 lockdowns in Shanghai. We collected a dataset of 1064 participants by random sampling. Structural equation modelling was used to analyse the dynamics of social capital before and after lockdowns. The results show that the level of post-lockdown social capital was higher than that of pre-lockdown social capital. Pre-lockdown social capital predicted the extent to which people suffered from food insecurity and their approaches to obtaining food. Participation in group purchases and food exchange with other residents predicted the levels of post-lockdown social capital. The results shed light on the interaction between emergencies and social capital. Our study theoretically contributes to understanding social capital through a dynamic perspective. (English) [ FROM AUTHOR] 粮食不安全的紧急发生威胁着人们的健康，而社会资本则有望在这种情况下增强人们的复原力。本研究考察了上海新冠疫情封城期间，食物不安全和社会资本之间的关系。我们通过随机抽样，收集了1064名参与者的数据。我们利用结构方程模型来分析封城前后社会资本的动态变化。结果显示，封城后的社会资本水平高于封城前的社会资本。封城前的社会资本决定了人们的食物安全受威胁的程度，以及他们获得食物的方式。参与团购和与其他居民的食物交换决定了封城后社会资本的水平。研究结果可以让人们对紧急情况和社会资本之间的互动有进一步的了解。在理论上，我们的研究有助于通过动态视角加深对社会资本的理解。 (Chinese) [ FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Urban Studies (Sage Publications, Ltd.) is the property of Sage Publications, Ltd. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full . (Copyright applies to all s.)

COVID-19 Plus: Addressing Food Security (SDG 2) and Malnutrition Within a Web of Disasters in the SADC Region

Despite the progress made to attain the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2: zero hunger in other regions of the world, the UN Food and Agricultural Organisation notes that Asia and Africa are still lagging in this regard. The advent of COVID-19 is exacerbating the situation. This study examines how the impact of natural disasters compounded by COVID-19 (COVID-19 plus) affected the state of food security and nutritional status of the populace in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the consequences of these on development. The study used secondary and archival data from field assessments conducted by SADC member countries and other critical secondary data sources. The study found that extreme weather patterns, such as droughts, flooding and intense rainfall, coupled with sociopolitical instability and the outbreak of COVID-19 would further limit the region's ability to meet targets set under SDG 2 (zero hunger) and other SDG targets it has synergies with, particularly those related to health (SDG3). Increased food insecurity is a threat to the health, social and economic well-being of the region's population, with detrimental implications for the present and future security of the region. The study calls for support, such as extended social safety net programmes to deal with food insecurity challenges in the short to medium term, if the situation is to be harnessed from further deterioration. There is also a need to put in place measures to address increasing poverty and inequality meted on the populations by COVID-19 induced lockdowns. Such interventions must be sensitive to gender and prioritise the needs of the youth population. © The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2023.

Food insufficiency and Twitter emotions during a pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic initially caused worldwide concerns about food insecurity. Tweets analyzed in real-time may help food assistance providers target food supplies to where they are most urgently needed. In this exploratory study, we use natural language processing to extract sentiments and emotions expressed in food security-related tweets early in the pandemic in U.S. states. The emotion joy dominated in these tweets nationally, but only anger, disgust, and fear were also statistically correlated with contemporaneous food insufficiency rates reported in the Household Pulse Survey; more nuanced and statistically stronger correlations are detected within states, including a negative correlation with joy.

Food insecurity and the covid pandemic: uneven impacts for food bank systems in Europe.

Over the past few decades, large food banks that collect, warehouse, and redistribute food have become institutionalized across Europe. Although food banks gained increased visibility as important food relief mechanisms during the covid pandemic in 2020 and 2021, the crisis also highlighted their structural weaknesses and the fragility of the charity-based emergency food system. In particular, many European food banks faced higher costs, lower food stocks, uneven food donations, and lower numbers of volunteers and personnel as demand for food relief increased sharply. Also, many food banks lacked personal health and safety equipment for front-line staff and volunteers, many of whom were vulnerable or aged, thus forcing the closure of some charities due to health concerns. Yet, the impact of the pandemic was uneven across the continent as the covid pandemic strengthened some food banks while others were weakened. To explore these dynamics in detail, this paper utilizes in-depth interviews and surveys of key food bank operators in the Netherlands, Norway, and Greece to analyze how and why European food bank systems fared so differently from the pandemic. In short, the findings in this paper reveal how the Norwegian food bank system leveraged its position to increase fundraising and visibility, while the Netherlands food bank system suffered from long-term structural weaknesses, and the Greek food bank system was further embroiled in government tensions that threatened its existence. The preexisting structure of food bank systems, broader political economy, and historical context significantly impacted how food relief networks fared during the pandemic.

An Analysis of Socioeconomic Determinants of the Black-White Disparity in Food Insecurity Rates in the US.

Previous research has not fully explored socioeconomic factors that influence the Black-White food insecurity disparities at the state and county levels in the United States. The goal of this study was to identify socioeconomic determinants associated with the Black-White food insecurity gap in the US at the state and county levels with rigorous quantitative investigation. The 2019 Map the Meal Gap dataset and multivariate regression analyses were used to identify factors associated with the prevalence of the Black-White disparity in food insecurity rates. Unemployment rate and median income gaps were found to be the strongest predictors of the Black-White disparity in food insecurity and the Black food insecurity rates in both state- and county-level models. Specifically, a 1% increase in Black unemployment rate compared with White unemployment rate was associated with a 0.918% and 0.232% increase in the Black-White disparity in food insecurity on average at the state and county levels, respectively. This study highlights the potential root causes of food insecurity and significant socioeconomic determinants associated with the Black-White food insecurity gap at the state and county levels in the US. Policymakers and program creators should implement action plans to address the income disparities and reduce unemployment rates among Blacks to eradicate this gap and ensure equity in food access between Blacks and Whites.

Predictors of food insecurity among older adults before and during COVID-19 in the United States.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has strained the health and wellbeing of older adult populations through increased morbidity, mortality, and social exclusion. However, the impact of COVID-19 on the health of older adults through food security has received relatively little attention, despite the strong impact of diet quality on the health and longevity of older adults. Objective: The objective of this study was to identify sociodemographic and socioeconomic predictors of self-reported food insecurity before and early in the COVID-19 pandemic among community-dwelling older adults in the United States. Methods: Using longitudinal data from the Health and Retirement Study, a nationally representative sample of middle-aged and older adults in the United States, we examined the associations between sociodemographic and socioeconomic predictors of self-reported food insecurity between 2018 (N = 2,413) and June 2020 (N = 2,216) using population-weighted multivariate logistic regression models. Results: The prevalence of food insecurity doubled among participants from 2018 (4.83%) to June 2020 (9.54%). In 2018, non-Hispanic Black and rural residents were more likely to report food insecurity, while individuals with higher education and greater wealth were less likely to report food insecurity in adjusted models. In June 2020, those who were relatively younger, not working due to a disability, and renting were more likely to report food insecurity. Those with an increased number of functional limitations, a recent onset of a work-limiting disability, and those who were no longer homeowners experienced an elevated longitudinal risk for food insecurity. Conclusion: Future research should examine effective policies and interventions to address the disproportionate impacts of COVID-19 on populations at a heightened risk of experiencing food insecurity.

Capturing and Documenting the Wider Health Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic Through the Remember Rebuild Saskatchewan Initiative: Protocol for a Mixed Methods Interdisciplinary Project.

BACKGROUND: In the Canadian province of Saskatchewan, the global COVID-19 pandemic appeared amidst existing social health challenges in food insecurity, housing precarity and homelessness, poor mental health, and substance misuse. These chronic features intersected with the pandemic, producing a moment in time when the urgency of COVID-19 brought attention to underlying shortcomings in public health services. OBJECTIVE: The objectives of the program of research are (1) to identify and measure relationships between the pandemic and wider health and social impacts, namely, food insecurity, housing precarity and homelessness, and mental health and substance use in Saskatchewan, and (2) to create an oral history of the pandemic in Saskatchewan in an accessible digital public archive. METHODS: We are using a mixed methods approach to identify the impacts of the pandemic on specific equity-seeking groups and areas of social health concern by developing cross-sectional population-based surveys and producing results based on statistical analysis. We augmented the quantitative analysis by conducting qualitative interviews and oral histories to generate more granular details of people's experiences of the pandemic. We are focusing on frontline workers, other service providers, and individuals within equity-seeking groups. We are capturing digital evidence and social media posts; we are collecting and organizing key threads using a free open-source research tool, Zotero, to trace the digital evidence of the pandemic in Saskatchewan. This study is approved by the Research Ethics Board at the University of Saskatchewan (Beh-1945). RESULTS: Funding for this program of research was received in March and April 2022. Survey data were collected between July and November 2022. The collection of oral histories began in June 2022 and concluded in March 2023. In total, 30 oral histories have been collected at the time of this writing. Qualitative interviews began in April 2022 and will continue until March 2024. Survey analysis began in January 2023, and results are expected to be published in mid-2023. All data and stories collected in this work are archived for preservation and freely accessible on the Remember Rebuild Saskatchewan project's website. We will share results in academic journals and conferences, town halls and community gatherings, social and digital media reports, and through collaborative exhibitions with public library systems. CONCLUSIONS: The pandemic's ephemeral nature poses a risk of us "forgetting" this moment and the attendant social inequities. These challenges inspired a novel fusion among health researchers, historians, librarians, and service providers in the creation of the Remember Rebuild Saskatchewan project, which focuses on preserving the legacy of the pandemic and capturing data to support an equitable recovery in Saskatchewan. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): DERR1-10.2196/46643.

"I just wanted money for food": a qualitative study of the experiences of Australians during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Aim: The social and economic impacts that have occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic can disproportionally affect those already experiencing poverty or at risk of poverty. Therefore, this study sought to explore the relationship between well-being and social determinants of health among Australian adults during the pandemic. Subject and Methods: Semi-structured interviews were undertaken with 20 participants, aged 21-65 years, from various socioeconomic areas. Results: Three main themes emerged from the analysis of the data: food security; housing outcomes; and psychological and emotional impact. Participants in low socioeconomic areas struggled with food security, having to access food banks, which was precipitated by employment loss during the pandemic. Some female participants experienced worsening inequalities and lack of financial and housing stability, affecting their overall well-being. Conclusion: This study identified that there was a clear social divide between adults living in low socioeconomic areas compared with those living in high socioeconomic areas, with participants in low socioeconomic areas faring worse in terms of exacerbated social determinants of health and consequent impacts on well-being.

"If I start panicking over having enough, then I start eating too much": Understanding the eating behaviors of SNAP recipients in larger bodies during COVID-19.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: Living in a food-insecure household may increase the risk for disordered eating. Though the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) was designed to reduce food insecurity, it may increase risk for disordered eating with the frequency in which benefits are distributed. Limited research has explored the lived experiences of managing eating behaviors while on SNAP, particularly among SNAP participants in larger bodies, and during COVID-19. Thus, the purpose of this study is to examine the experiences with eating behaviors among adults with a BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2, and who received SNAP benefits during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: Eligible adults were recruited to participate in a semi-structured interview. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using thematic analysis and content analysis. RESULTS: Participants (N = 16), had a mean (±SD) age of 43.4 ± 10.9 years, and overwhelmingly identified as female (86 %). One-third of the participants were Black. We identified 4 main themes: (1) not having enough money/benefits to cover needs; (2) navigating loss of control and emotional eating; (3) making sure the kids are alright; and (4) still feeling the pressure to manage weight. CONCLUSION: Managing eating behaviors while also navigating SNAP benefits is complex and may exacerbate risk of disordered eating.

Temporal examination of adult food insecurity amongst Canadian families managing food allergy.

BACKGROUND: Pediatric food allergy is associated with excess familial food costs compared to families without allergy. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, food prices have increased substantially. OBJECTIVE: To understand the temporal pattern of food insecurity amongst Canadian families with food allergy from the year prior to the pandemic, through May 2022. METHODS: Using data collected electronically from families reporting food allergy using a validated food security questionnaire, we estimated food insecurity, including categories of food insecurity (marginal, moderate, secure) in the year prior to the pandemic (2019; Wave 1), and the first (2020; Wave 2) and second years of the pandemic (2022; Wave 3). RESULTS: Participants in all waves were commonly in 2 + adult, 2 child households. Less than half of participants (Waves 1-3: 45.7%, 31.0%, and 22.9%, respectively) reported household incomes below the median Canadian. Common allergies were milk, eggs, peanuts and tree nuts. In Wave 1, 22.9% of families reported food insecurity; corresponding numbers at Waves 2 and 3 were 30.6% and 74.4%, respectively, representing an overall increase of 225.6%, including notable increases in severe food insecurity. CONCLUSION: Canadian families with pediatric food allergy report higher rates of food insecurity compared to the general Canadian population, especially during the pandemic.

Food Insecurity, Food Assistance, and Psychological Distress among University Students: Cross-Sectional Survey Western Australia, 2020.

University students have been identified as a population sub-group vulnerable to food insecurity. This vulnerability increased in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to assess factors associated with food insecurity among university students and the differences between students with and without children. A cross-sectional survey of (n = 213) students attending one university in Western Australia measured food insecurity, psychological distress, and socio-demographic characteristics. Logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify factors associated with food insecurity. Forty-eight percent of students who responded to the survey had experienced food insecurity in 2020. International students who were studying in Australia were nine times more likely to experience food insecurity than domestic students (AOR = 9.13; 95% CI = 2.32-35.97). International students with children were more likely to experience food insecurity than international students without children (p < 0.001) and domestic students with (p < 0.001) or without children (p < 0.001). For each unit increase in depression level, the likelihood of experiencing food insecurity increased (AOR = 1.62; 95% CI = 1.12-2.33). Findings show a higher prevalence of food insecurity among international university students and students with children during the COVID-19 pandemic and that food insecurity was associated with higher levels of psychological distress. These findings highlight the need for targeted interventions to mitigate the risk of food insecurity among Australian university students, particularly among international students, students with children, and those experiencing psychological distress.

The COVID-19 Pandemic and College Student Food Access: Perspectives from Students at Four North Carolina Universities

Food insecurity prevalence among college students has increased. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated food insecurity generally but the particular impact on college students was unclear. In-depth interviews were conducted at four North Carolina universities to determine how the pandemic impacted food access. Students were asked about the food resources they turned to and what universities could do to help. Evidence suggests food access was disrupted during the pandemic for most students, and disruption varied throughout the pandemic. Students provided recommendations for how universities can improve food access. Universities need to better prepare to support food security among students, pandemic or not.