(P02-074-25) Food Insecurity in the University of Jordan During the Coronavirus Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study

Objectives: We investigated food insecurity status in a sample of students from the University of Jordan during coronavirus.

Methods: This cross-sectional study randomly recruited a representative sample of 470 male and female students from the University of Jordan. A total of 414 adults completed an Arabic version of the demographic questionnaire, Psychological General Wellbeing Index-Short version, Nutrition Knowledge Index, and Individual Food Insecurity Experience Scale.

Results: Approximately16.9% of the participants were food insecure. Lack of food security was significantly more prevalent among the students aged 18-20 years, who had a GPA ≥3, were of normal weight, had low psychological wellbeing and nutrition knowledge statuses, and a family income ≤ JD 2000, were non-smokers and non-supplement users, and lacked having a grocery store in their neighborhood when compared with these aged 21-38 years, had a GPA < 3, were over- or under-weight, had high levels of psychological wellbeing and nutrition knowledge, a family income > JD 2000, and a grocery store in their neighborhood, as well as were smokers and consumed supplement (P < 0.05). Experiencing low psychological wellbeing and nutrition knowledge levels significantly increased the risk to become food insecure by 1-fold (P < 0.05).

Conclusions: Food insecurity was moderately frequent in the present sample of university students, which was associated with low psychological wellbeing and nutrition knowledge. Thus, higher education institutions and health care professionals should collaborate to establish on-campus convenience stores that sell foods and meals to students in reduced prices, and facilitate their accessibility to mental health care services. Dietitians also are encouraged to develop nutrition education programs targeting university students to raise their nutrition knowledge. The current study however must be repeated in the future to assess food security status and associated risk factors in other universities in Jordan.

Funding Sources: This research was not funded.