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Section 15.2.2

15.2.2 - Health and Food Security

Food Security and Health. Table 15.2.2 presents similar information regarding health status.

Table 15.2.2
HEALTH AND FOOD SECURITY
Households with or Without Members in Poor Health      
  All Households With Members in Poor Health Without Members in Poor Health
Food secure 29.5% 23.2% 32.2%
Food insecure without hunger 34.1% 34.4% 34.0%
Food insecure with hunger 36.4% 42.4% 33.8%
TOTAL 100% 100% 100%
SAMPLE SIZE (N) 31,376 9,400 21,976

Notes 
Item nonresponses to all variables involved were excluded in calculating percentages and sample sizes.

Statistically significant based on chi-square test (d.f. = 2) at the 1% level.

 
 
The findings show that there seems to be a significant negative correlation between food security and health status:

  • Among the client households with at least one member in poor health, 23.2% are food secure; 34.4% are food insecure without hunger; and 42.4% are food insecure with hunger.
  • Among the client households with no one in poor health, 32.2% are food secure; 34.0% are food insecure without hunger; and 33.8% are food insecure with hunger.
  • That is, a higher percentage of the households with members in poor health are food insecure compared to the households with no one in poor health.