Jirathananuwat Areeya, Saenmontrikul Suteera, Hengyotmark Arunee, Pensirisomboon Krittanan
Department of Health Technology, Faculty of Sciences and Health Technology, Navamindradhiraj University, 3 Khao Rd. Vajirapayaban Dusit, Bangkok, 10300, Thailand.
Department of General Education, Faculty of Sciences and Health Technology, Navamindradhiraj University, 3 Khao Rd. Vajirapayaban Dusit, Bangkok, 10300, Thailand.
J Health Popul Nutr. 2025 Jan 13;44(1):7. doi: 10.1186/s41043-024-00724-y.
The Thai government's initial response to the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) led to confusion and food insecurity in quarantined low-income communities. Although free food programs were initiated, no official assessment of their impact exists. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of these food programs by surveying the food requirements, food needs, and health behaviors of quarantined, densely populated communities in Bangkok.
A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted with 410 urban dwellers from quarantined communities who received free food assistance. Data were collected via a questionnaire on food requirements, food hygiene, food needs, and health behaviors during the COVID-19 epidemic. The data were analyzed in terms of frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation. The associations between demographic characteristics, food needs, and health behaviors were analyzed using logistic regression.
The participants demanded dried/canned food (54.9%) and three meals per day (64.9%), while the majority of the food provided consisted of rice and side dishes (96.2%) that were clean and qualified. In consideration of food needs, a high level of demand was observed in the first three levels: enough food, acceptable food, and reliability. Overall, dietary health behaviors were good. Logistic regression analysis revealed that being elderly (AOR = 3.67, 95% CI = 1.63-8.27) and having a moderate to high income level (AOR = 3.93, 95% CI = 2.23-6.94) were positively correlated with food needs. Similarly, good health behaviors were positively correlated with being female (AOR = 1.74, 95% CI = 1.12-2.69), being elderly (AOR = 3.73, 95% CI = 1.72-8.08), and having a moderate to high income level (AOR = 3.76, 95% CI = 2.38-5.93).
Preparing for future crises requires the consideration of demographic factors that influence food needs, personal choices, and dietary health behaviors. Future food assistance programs should focus on the provision of nonperishable and long-lasting food, which will ensure the consistent availability of three meals per day.
泰国政府对2019年新型冠状病毒病（COVID-19）的初步应对措施在隔离的低收入社区引发了混乱和粮食不安全问题。尽管启动了免费食品计划，但尚无对其影响的官方评估。本研究的目的是通过调查曼谷隔离的人口密集社区的食物需求、食物需要和健康行为，评估这些食品计划的有效性。
对410名来自接受免费食品援助的隔离社区的城市居民进行了横断面描述性研究。通过问卷调查收集了COVID-19疫情期间的食物需求、食品卫生、食物需要和健康行为数据。对数据进行了频率、百分比、均值和标准差分析。使用逻辑回归分析人口统计学特征、食物需要和健康行为之间的关联。
参与者需要干/罐装食品（54.9%）和一日三餐（64.9%），而提供的大部分食物是米饭和配菜（96.2%），且干净合格。考虑到食物需要，在前三个层面观察到了较高的需求水平：足够的食物、可接受的食物和可靠性。总体而言，饮食健康行为良好。逻辑回归分析显示，老年人（调整后比值比[AOR]=3.67，95%置信区间[CI]=1.63-8.27）和中等至高收入水平（AOR=3.93，95%CI=2.23-6.94）与食物需要呈正相关。同样，良好的健康行为与女性（AOR=1.74，95%CI=1.12-2.69）、老年人（AOR=3.73，95%CI=1.72-8.08）和中等至高收入水平（AOR=3.76，95%CI=2.38-5.93）呈正相关。
为未来危机做准备需要考虑影响食物需要、个人选择和饮食健康行为的人口统计学因素。未来的食品援助计划应侧重于提供不易腐烂和持久的食物，这将确保每日三餐的持续供应。
