215384 IMPAQ International, LLC, Columbia, MD, USA.
IMPAQ International, LLC, Washington, DC, USA.
Public Health Rep. 2021 Sep-Oct;136(5):618-625. doi: 10.1177/0033354920974662. Epub 2021 Jan 21.
Ensuring access to sufficient foods at all times is critical to veterans' health and well-being. Food insecurity has not been well explored in the veteran population. We examined the prevalence and predictors of food insecurity among low-income veterans, because the highest rates of food insecurity are among low-income households. We also examined rates of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participation among subgroups at the highest risk of food insecurity.
We used univariate analyses and 2011-2017 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) data on veterans aged ≥21 with family incomes <200% of the federal poverty level to estimate the prevalence of food insecurity. We used bivariate analyses to identify correlates of food insecurity and estimate SNAP participation rates among subgroups of low-income veterans. Percentages were weighted using NHIS survey weights.
Of 5146 low-income veterans, 22.5% reported being food insecure in the previous month. Food insecurity was significantly associated with being aged <65 (33.0% aged 45-64 and 29.7% aged 21-44) compared with 15.0% and 6.4% among veterans aged 65-74 and ≥75, respectively ( < .001); unemployed compared with employed or not in the labor force (39.4%, 22.7%, and 20.2%, respectively; < .001); in fair or poor health compared with good, very good, or excellent heath (31.8% vs 18.2%; < .001); and having experienced serious psychological distress in the past month (56.3%) compared with not having experienced such distress (19.7%; < .001). Although overall SNAP participation among low-income veterans was estimated to be 27.0%, participation rates were highest among veterans who had experienced serious psychological distress (44.1%), were unemployed (39.2%), and were renting their home (39.0%).
Some low-income veterans are at greater risk of food insecurity than other veterans. Postseparation programs, civilian support services, and veterans' health providers should be aware of the characteristics that place veterans at highest risk of food insecurity.
确保退伍军人随时获得足够的食物对其健康和幸福至关重要。然而，食物不安全感在退伍军人人群中并未得到充分研究。我们研究了低收入退伍军人中的食物不安全感的流行率和预测因素，因为低收入家庭中的食物不安全感发生率最高。我们还研究了在食物不安全感风险最高的亚组中补充营养援助计划（SNAP）参与率。
我们使用单变量分析和 2011-2017 年全国健康访谈调查（NHIS）中家庭收入低于联邦贫困水平 200%的≥21 岁退伍军人的数据，来估计食物不安全感的流行率。我们使用双变量分析来确定食物不安全感的相关因素，并估计低收入退伍军人亚组中的 SNAP 参与率。使用 NHIS 调查权重对百分比进行加权。
在 5146 名低收入退伍军人中，22.5%的人在过去一个月报告食物不安全感。与 65-74 岁和≥75 岁的退伍军人中分别为 15.0%和 6.4%的比例相比，年龄<65 岁（45-64 岁的比例为 33.0%，21-44 岁的比例为 29.7%）的退伍军人中食物不安全感的发生率显著更高（<0.001）；与在职或不在劳动力中的退伍军人相比，失业的退伍军人中食物不安全感的发生率更高（39.4%、22.7%和 20.2%；<0.001）；与健康状况良好、非常好或极好的退伍军人相比，健康状况一般或较差的退伍军人中食物不安全感的发生率更高（31.8%比 18.2%；<0.001）；与过去一个月没有经历过严重心理困扰的退伍军人相比，过去一个月经历过严重心理困扰的退伍军人中食物不安全感的发生率更高（56.3%比 19.7%；<0.001）。尽管低收入退伍军人中估计总体 SNAP 参与率为 27.0%，但在经历过严重心理困扰、失业和租房的退伍军人中，SNAP 参与率最高（分别为 44.1%、39.2%和 39.0%）。
一些低收入退伍军人比其他退伍军人更容易出现食物不安全感。退伍后计划、民间支持服务和退伍军人健康提供者应意识到使退伍军人面临最高食物不安全感风险的特征。
