FOOD INSECURITY STATUS AND RELATED FACTORS IN MINIMUM WAGE WORKERS

Year 2024, , 8 - 15, 30.04.2024

Aysun Yüksel , Aslı Hilal Güzelalp , Neslihan Albayrak , Edanur Taş , İlayda Soylu

https://doi.org/10.52831/kjhs.1392547

Abstract

Objective: This study was conducted to determine the food insecurity and nutrition status of individuals working for minimum wage and to identify associated factors.
Method: The study was carried out with 189 voluntary females and 197 males working for the minimum wage in various workplaces in the Üsküdar district of Istanbul between February 01, 2022, and March 31, 2022. Descriptive characteristics, dietary habits and food consumption frequency with quantity were inquired and recorded for all participants. In addition, the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale was administered to individuals. All data were collected through face-to-face interviews. Energy and nutrient intakes were determined utilizing the BeBIS 8.2 program. The obtained data were analyzed using the IBM SPSS 22.0 software package. The significance level was accepted as p<0.05.
Results: According to the results, out of the total 386 participants, 52.1% were food secure, while 47.9% were not. The majority of food insecure individuals (45.4%) were university graduates. It was observed that the partcipants who were food secure, consumed more dairy products (p=0.040), fruits and vegetables (p<0.01) compared to food insecure individuals. In contrast, animal protein sources (p=0.010), fats (p=0.001), and the bread and cereal group (p<0.001) were found to be consumed more by food insecure individuals. Significant associations were identified between food insecurity and age, additional income for nutrition, and smoking status. A unit increase in age was determined to decrease food insecurity by 0.52 units (p=0.015).
Conclusion: Determining the food insecurity status of individuals working for minimum wages as well as addressing diseases related to nutrition will be a crucial step in preventing inadequate and imbalanced nutrition. Making healthy foods more affordable or increasing the overall living standard of individuals is necessary for the continuation of proper nutrition and health.

Keywords

Minimum Wage, Nutrition, Food Insecurity

ASGARİ ÜCRET ÇALIŞANLARINDA GIDA GÜVENCESİZLİĞİ DURUMU VE İLİŞKİLİ FAKTÖRLER

Abstract

Amaç: Bu çalışma asgari ücretle çalışan bireylerin gıda güvencesizliği ve beslenme durumunun saptanması ve ilişkili faktörlerin belirlenmesi amacıyla yapılmıştır.
Yöntem: Çalışma 01 Şubat 2022-31 Mart 2022 tarihinde, İstanbul ili Üsküdar ilçesinde çeşitli iş yerlerinde asgari ücret karşılığında çalışan, gönüllü 189 kadın ve 197 erkek ile yürütülmüştür. Çalışmaya katılan tüm bireylerin tanımlayıcı özellikleri, beslenme alışkanlıkları ve besin tüketim sıklığı-miktarı sorgulanıp kaydedilmiş, bireylerden Hanehalkı Gıda Güvencesizliği Erişim ölçeğini doldurmaları istenmiştir. Tüm veriler yüz yüze toplanmıştır. Elde edilen veriler IBM SPSS 22.0 paket programıyla analiz edilmiştir. Anlamlılık düzeyi p<0,05’tir.
Bulgular: Çalışmaya katılan toplam 389 asgari ücret çalışanının %49’u kadın ve %51’i erkektir. Asgari ücret çalışanlarının %52.1’inin gıda güvenceli, %47.9’unun gıda güvencesiz olduğu belirlenmiştir. Süt ürünleri, et grubu, ekmek ve tahıllar, yağ ve sebze-meyve gruplarının tüketiminin gıda güvenceli ve gıda güvencesiz bireyler arasında farklı olduğu görülmüştür (p<0.05). Tüm bireylerin süt grubu ile meyve-sebze grubundaki besinleri yetersiz tükettiği saptanmıştır. Gıda güvencesizliği ile yaş, ek beslenme geliri ve sigara içme durumu arasında anlamlı ilişki bulunmuştur.
Sonuç: Gıda güvencesizliği, daha çok düşük gelirli aileleri etkileyen önemli bir halk sağlığı sorunudur. Asgari ücretle çalışan bireylerin gıda güvencesizliği açısından değerlendirilmesi gerektiği ve uygun fiyatlı sağlıklı besinlere erişimin sağlanarak, yetersiz ve dengesiz beslenmenin ve beslenmeye bağlı oluşabilecek hastalıkların önüne geçilebilir.

Keywords

Asgari Ücret, Beslenme, Gıda Güvencesizliği

Ethical Statement

Çalışma için etik kurul onayı Sağlık Bilimleri Üniversitesi Hamidiye Bilimsel Araştırmalar Etik Kurulu tarafından 31.12.2021tarihinde 21/761 karar sayısı ile alınmıştır.

Thanks

Çalışmanın veri toplama aşamasına destek olan Sağlık Bilimleri Üniversitesi Beslenme ve Diyetetik Bölümü öğrencilerinden Erhan Küçükodacı’ya ve tüm katılımcılara teşekkür ederiz.

References

• FAO, Trade reforms and food security conceptualizing the linkages. Chapter 2. Food security: concepts and measurement. Rome, FAO. 2003:25-33.
• FAO, IFAD, UNICEF, WFP and WHO. In brief to the state of food security and nutrition in the world 2023. Urbanization, agrifood systems transformation and healthy diets across the rural–urban continuum. Rome, FAO.2023.
• Hernandez DC, Reesor LM, Murillo R. Food insecurity and adult overweight/obesity: Gender and race/ethnic disparities. Appetite. 2017;117:373-378.
• Myers CA. Food insecurity and psychological distress: a review of the recent literature. Curr Nutr Rep. 2020;9(2):107-118.
• Jimenez Rincon S, Dou N, Murray-Kolb LE, et al. Daily food insecurity is associated with diet quality, but not energy intake, in winter and during COVID-19, among low-income adults. Nutr J. 2022;21(1):19.
• Jacob L, Smith L, Kostev K, et al. Food insecurity and insomnia-related symptoms among adults from low- and middle-income countries. J Sleep Res. 2023;32(4):e13852.
• Joulaei H, Keshani P, Foroozanfar Z, et al. Food insecurity status and its contributing factors in slums’ dwellers of southwest Iran, 2021: a cross-sectional study. Arch of Public Health. 2023;81(1):38.
• Caspi CE, De Marco M, Durfee T, et al. A difference-in-difference study evaluating the effect of minimum wage policy on body mass index and related health behaviors. Obs Stud. 2021;7.
• Militao EMA, Uthman OA, Salvador EM, Vinberg S, Macassa G. Food insecurity and associated factors among households in maputo city. Nutrients. 2023;15(10).
• Yolvermez B. An Assessment of the Minimum Wage Problems in Turkey. Çalışma ve Toplum. 2020;4(67):2441-2462.
• Newell FD, Williams PL, Watt CG. Is the minimum enough? Affordability of a nutritious diet for minimum wage earners in Nova Scotia (2002–2012). Can J Public Health. 2014;105(3):e158-e165.
• Reeves A, Loopstra R, Tarasuk V. Wage-setting policies, employment, and food insecurity: a multilevel analysis of 492 078 people in 139 countries. Am J Public Health. 2021;111(4):718-725.
• Men F, Urquia ML, Tarasuk V. The role of provincial social policies and economic environments in shaping food insecurity among Canadian families with children. Prev Med. 2021;148:106558.
• DİSK-AR (DISK Research Center), Minimum wage reality 2023 report. 2022, İstanbul.
• Coates J, Swindale A, Bilinsky P. Household food insecurity access scale (HFIAS) for measurement of food access: Indicator guide: Version 3. 2007
• Bor H, Investigating the Relationship Between Food Insecurity and Obesity at University [Master's thesis, Hacettepe University]. 2018.
• Shuvo SD, Hossain MS, Riazuddin M, Mazumdar S, Roy D. Factors influencing low-income households' food insecurity in Bangladesh during the COVID-19 lockdown. PLoS One. 2022;17(5):e0267488.
• Niyaz ÖC, İnan İH. Türkiye'de gıda güvencesinin mevcut durumunun değerlendirilmesi. ADÜ Ziraat Derg. 2016;13(2):1-7.
• Confederation of Turkish Trade Unions (TÜRK-İŞ), February 2023 hunger and poverty line. Retrieved October 23, 2023, from https://www.turkis.org.tr/subat-2023-aclik-ve-yoksulluk-siniri/
• Eştürk Ö, Nilcan M. Food Insecurıty In Seasonal Agrıcultural Workers. Abant Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi. 2021;21(3):497-512.
• Bhawra J, Kirkpatrick SI, Hammond D. Food insecurity among Canadian youth and young adults: insights from the Canada food study. Can J Public Health. 2021;112(4):663-675.
• Kim-Mozeleski JE, Chagin KM, Sehgal AR, Misak JE, Fuehrer SM. Food insecurity, social needs, and smoking status among patients in a county hospital system. Prev Med Rep. 2022;29:101963.
• Kim JE, Tsoh JY. Cigarette smoking among socioeconomically disadvantaged young adults in association with food ınsecurity and other factors. Prev Chronic Dis. 2016;13:E08.
• Araújo MLd, Mendonça RdD, Lopes Filho JD, Lopes ACS. Association between food insecurity and food intake. Nutrition. 2018;54:54-59.
• Ranjit N, Macias S, Hoelscher D. Factors related to poor diet quality in food insecure populations. Transl Behav Med. 2020;10(6):1297-1305.
• Jomaa L, Naja F, Cheaib R, Hwalla N. Household food insecurity is associated with a higher burden of obesity and risk of dietary inadequacies among mothers in Beirut, Lebanon. BMC Public Health. 2017;17(1):567.
• Darmon N, Drewnowski A. Contribution of food prices and diet cost to socioeconomic disparities in diet quality and health: a systematic review and analysis. Nutr Rev. 2015;73(10):643-660.
• Leung CW, Williams DR, Villamor E. Very low food security predicts obesity predominantly in California Hispanic men and women. Public Health Nutr. 2012;15(12):2228-36.
• Pan L, Sherry B, Njai R, Blanck HM. Food insecurity is associated with obesity among us adults in 12 states. J Acad Nutr Diet. 2012;112(9):1403-1409.
• U.S. Department of Agriculture ERS. Definitions of food security 2019. Retrieved October 23, 2023, from https://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/food-nutrition-assistance/food-security-in-the-us/definitions-of-food-security/
• Beck L, Quinn EL, Hill HD, Wolf J, Buszkiewicz J, Otten JJ. Low-income workers' perceptions of wages, food acquisition, and well-being. Transl Behav Med. 2019;9(5):942-951.
• Hutchinson J, Tarasuk V. The relationship between diet quality and the severity of household food insecurity in Canada. Public Health Nutr. 2022;25(4):1013-1026.
• Gundersen C, Kreider B, Pepper J. The Economics of food insecurity in the United States. Appl Econ Perspect Policy. 2011;33(3):281-303.
• Nord M, Prell MA. Food security of SNAP recipients improved following the 2009 stimulus package. 2011.
• Banks AR, Bell BA, Ngendahimana D, Embaye M, Freedman DA, Chisolm DJ. Identification of factors related to food insecurity and the implications for social determinants of health screenings. BMC Public Health. 2021;21(1):1410.