Robinson, Taylor J.
(2022)
Longitudinal Analysis of Food Insecurity by Race, Ethnicity, and Housing Status during the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Master Essay, University of Pittsburgh.
Abstract
Introduction:
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on the U.S., causing lasting repercussions that have exacerbated existing social inequities. Prior to the pandemic, racial and ethnic minoritized groups, as well as renters were disproportionately more likely to be vulnerable to economic shocks. These populations were also at an increased risk of experiencing food insecurity. There is limited research on how COVID-19 impacted food insecurity differentially by race, ethnicity, and housing status.
Methods:
This study is a longitudinal analysis of serial cross-sectional data from April 23, 2020 to March 29, 2021 from the 2020 U.S. Census Bureau Household Pulse Survey (HPS) (n=2,323,337 observations). Descriptive statistics was used to assess characteristics of the study population. Logistic regression models estimated pooled changes in food insecurity over the pandemic and trends in food insecurity by race, ethnicity, and housing status.
Results:
From April 2020 to March 2021, 6.6% of the study population reported experiencing food insecurity. Food insecurity remained relatively constant across survey weeks. The levels of food insecurity were particularly high for Black and Hispanic individuals and renters across the study period (15.8%, 12.9%, 14.2%, respectively). Across the study period, Black and Hispanic individuals experienced higher odds of food insecurity relative to white individuals (adjusted OR=2.24 and 1.58 respectively), and renters experienced higher odds of food insecurity relative to homeowners (adjusted OR=2.73) across survey weeks. These disparities by race, ethnicity and housing status were statistically significant and were persistently large with no appreciable widening or narrowing across the weeks in the study.
Conclusion:
Black and Hispanic individuals, and renters were consistently at greater risk of experiencing food insecurity. There is little evidence that trends in food insecurity widened or diminished during the pandemic.
Public Health Significance:
Disparities in food insecurity by race, ethnicity, and housing status are persistent. This study supports findings that Black and Hispanic individuals, and renters continue to be the most likely to experience food insecurity during the COVID-19 pandemic. There is a need for comprehensive policies targeted at the most vulnerable and an evaluation of effectiveness of these policies.
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Details
| Item Type: |
Other Thesis, Dissertation, or Long Paper
(Master Essay)
|
| Status: |
Unpublished |
| Creators/Authors: |
| Creators | Email | Pitt Username | ORCID  |
|---|
| Robinson, Taylor J. | tjr70@pitt.edu | tjr70 | |
|
| Contributors: |
| Contribution | Contributors Name | Email | Pitt Username | ORCID |
|---|
| Committee Chair | Brooks, Maria | mbrooks@pitt.edu | mbrooks | UNSPECIFIED | | Committee Co-Chair | Roberts, Eric T. | eric.roberts@pitt.edu | eric.roberts | UNSPECIFIED | | Committee Member | Yonas, Michael | yonasm@PGHFDN.org | UNSPECIFIED | UNSPECIFIED |
|
| Date: |
17 May 2022 |
| Date Type: |
Completion |
| Submission Date: |
29 April 2022 |
| Access Restriction: |
2 year -- Restrict access to University of Pittsburgh for a period of 2 years. |
| Number of Pages: |
59 |
| Institution: |
University of Pittsburgh |
| Schools and Programs: |
School of Public Health > Epidemiology |
| Degree: |
MPH - Master of Public Health |
| Thesis Type: |
Master Essay |
| Refereed: |
Yes |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: |
health disparities, food insecurity, housing insecurity, racial disparities |
| Date Deposited: |
17 May 2022 18:09 |
| Last Modified: |
17 May 2022 18:09 |
| URI: |
http://d-scholarship.pitt.edu/id/eprint/42888 |
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