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Hastings and Prince Edward Public Health
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Food Insecurity and Disability

Food insecurity: a social determinant of health

Food insecurity, as defined by PROOF (University of Toronto’s Food Insecurity Policy Research), is the inadequate or insecure access to food as the result of financial barriers. This definition highlights that food insecurity is a marker of material deprivation (lack of basic material needs).

Previously, food insecurity was considered an issue of accessibility, when individuals were unable to find or access food because of limited or no availability. The most recent definition released by PROOF describes food insecurity as an income issue, shifting away from the understanding that food insecurity is experienced due to limited or no access to food.

Levels of food insecurity

There are three different levels of food insecurity, ranging from marginal to severe.

Marginal food insecurity: Worrying about running out of food and/or limited food selection due to a lack of money for food.
Moderate food insecurity: Compromising quality and/or quantity of food due to a lack of money for food.
Severe food insecurity: Missing meals, reduced food intake and, at the most extreme, going day(s) without food.

When talking about food insecurity, the term household food insecurity (HFI) is often used, where rates of food insecurity are discussed based on households, not individuals.

Food insecurity and health

Food insecurity is considered to be a determinant of health due to a strong connection and potential to impact mental and physical health outcomes. Food insecurity not only impacts one’s lifestyle and diet, but also one’s risk of diseases and other negative health outcomes. PROOF’s 2022 Household Food Insecurity report indicates that adults living in food-insecure households are more likely to also experience infectious diseases, poor oral health, injury, and non-communicable diseases. These include heart disease, hypertension, arthritis, back problems, chronic pain, depression and anxiety disorders. Adults experiencing food-insecurity are also more likely to be diagnosed with multiple chronic conditions. As the severity of food insecurity increases (from marginal to severe), so do the negative health implications. Exposure to food insecurity is also associated with premature death, where food insecure individuals die 9 years earlier than those who are food secure.

Children living in food-insecure households are more likely to develop depression and suicidal thoughts in adolescence and adulthood.

The countless links of food insecurity and its impacts on health demonstrate that food insecurity is a social determinant of health and is a significant contributor to poor health outcomes. One’s income, source of income, housing, education and race are some of the countless factors that intersect and play a role in food security status.

Food insecurity in the Hastings Prince Edward region

Household food insecurity data is collected through the Canadian Income Survey – Food security module, providing annual estimates of food insecurity prevalence for the Hastings Prince Edward region. To learn more about provincial prevalence of food insecurity, visit Public Health Ontario’s Food Insecurity Snapshot.

Food insecurity is higher in Hastings Prince Edward than the provincial average. The household food insecurity prevalence – 2 year combined (2021-2022) average for the Hastings Prince Edward Region is 23.0%, compared to the provincial estimate of 17.4%.

The prevalence of food insecurity is a valuable estimate, as it helps us understand the severity of the issue in the Hastings Prince Edward region. Being aware of the prevalence of food insecurity helps us understand the impacts of food insecurity on community health, as exposure results to long term consequences to one’s health and wellbeing.

Public health’s role

  • Continued monitoring and reporting of food affordability for the Hastings Prince Edward region at HPEPH.
  • Advocating for continued local and provincial data collection to monitor household food insecurity.
  • Promoting and advocating for effective public policy to increase incomes and social assistance to address food insecurity.
  • Supporting and collaborating with local groups and community organizations to increase capacity for change through policy and advocacy.
  • Engaging with stakeholders to increase knowledge and advocacy efforts in the region.
  • Providing community members with information on available programming and resources in the region.

Further reading and community resources

References

Li T, Fafard St-Germain AA, Tarasuk V. (2023) Household food insecurity in Canada, 2022. Toronto: Research to identify policy options to reduce food insecurity (PROOF). Retrieved from https://proof.utoronto.ca/

Ontario Agency for Health Protection and Promotion (Public Health Ontario). Technical notes: household food insecurity snapshot [Internet]. Toronto, ON: King’s Printer for Ontario; c2024 [cited 2024 Jan 12]. Available from: Public Health Ontario

Need More Information About Food Insecurity and Disability?

Please contact the Social Determinants of Health Nurse by calling 613-966-5500 or 1-800-267-2803.

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COVID-19 vaccines in HPE

Eligible individuals can receive their vaccination at many participating local pharmacies by contacting the pharmacy directly. Please visit covid-19.ontario.ca/vaccine-locations for location and registration information.

Vaccine ordering for health care providers

Vaccine orders for routine immunizations and STI medications continue to be available through HPEPH by using our vaccine order forms; however, please note that our vaccine delivery/pickup procedure has changed. For the most up to date pick up schedule please visit hpePublicHealth.ca/vaccine-orders-info-healthcare-providers/.