(P02-024-25) Food Insecurity Among Adults Residing With Children: Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA)

Objectives: In high income countries, food insecurity (FI) shows higher rates in households with children. There is no consensus on the best measure of FI, leading to potential bias in the estimates depending on the tools used. In Australia, a single ‘run out of food’ item is applied to estimate FI but may underestimate FI as well as the severity of FI.

Methods: Using Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA), a large household-based national panel survey, the current study analysed the weighted prevalence of FI among 4,320 adults residing with children < 15 years. The 8-item Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES) was applied for the first time in 2020 alongside the single item. Multilevel logistic regression was run to identify factors related to FI.

Results: Fifteen percent of adults living with children experienced FI using FIES tool (mild FI = 5%; moderate FI = 3%; and severe FI = 7%), almost four times higher prevalence than the single measure (4%, p < .001). The model with individual and household factors included was selected as the best fitting model for the data. The likelihood of experiencing FI using the FIES was higher among younger people residing with children (AOR=0.98; p=.015), those from the most disadvantaged areas (AOR=1.81; p=.019), the unemployed (AOR=1.38; p=.043), who attained certificate compared to university degree (AOR=1.54; p=.018), those with lower mental health scores (AOR=0.98; p < .001), experienced major psychosocial event (AOR=1.41; p=.012), inability to pay bills (AOR=5.84; p < .001), no health insurance (AOR=1.48; p=.014), had a chronic disease (AOR=1.57; p=.004), inability to save money (AOR=3.16; p < .001), moved house recently (AOR=1.69; p=.002), being born outside of Australia (AOR=1.79; p=.001), and renting (AOR=1.37; p < .049).

Conclusions: This study showed that a single measure underestimated the extent of FI in Australia suggesting surveillance systems need to use more comprehensive tools. The factors associated with FI also indicate that there is not a one-size-fits-all methodology to address FI, and inclusive strategies addressing the key social determinants of FI need to be considered, with a particular focus on people living with children.

Funding Sources: Dana is supported by an Australian Government Research Training Program (RTP) and Forrest Research Foundation Scholarships to undertake this work as part of her PhD.