RESUMEN
To assess the determinants of hunger among food pantry users, the present study used a cross-sectional survey that included a modified Household Hunger Scale to quantify hunger. Mixed-effects logistic regression models were used to assess the relationship between hunger categories and various household socio-demographic and economic characteristics, such as age, race, household size, marital status and experience of any economic hardship. The survey was administered to food pantry users from June 2018 to August 2018 at various food pantries across Eastern Massachusetts with 611 food pantry users completing the questionnaire at any of the 10 food pantry sites. One-fifth (20â 13 %) of food pantry users experienced moderate hunger and 19â 14 % experienced severe hunger. Food pantry users who were single, divorced or separated; had less than a high school education; working part-time, unemployed or retired; or, who earned incomes less than $1000 per month were most likely to experience severe or moderate hunger. Pantry users who experienced any economic hardship had 4â 78 the adjusted odds of severe hunger (95 % CI 2â 49, 9â 19), which was much larger than the odds of moderate hunger (AOR 1â 95; 95 % CI 1â 10, 3â 48). Younger age and participation in WIC (AOR 0â 20; 95 % CI 0â 05-0â 78) and SNAP (AOR 0â 53; 95 % CI 0â 32-0â 88) were protective against severe hunger. The present study illustrates factors affecting hunger in food pantry users, which can help inform public health programmes and policies for people in need of additional resources. This is essential particularly in times of increasing economic hardships recently exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.