Peer-reviewed article
Household food and water insecurity and its association with diarrhoea, respiratory illness, and stunting in Ecuadorian children under 5 years
Rishika Chakraborty, Rodrigo X. Armijos, Erika T. Beidelman, Molly Rosenberg, M. Margaret Weigel ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-sonnet-5-5This study used data from the 2018 Ecuadorian National Health and Nutrition Survey, covering 20,510 children aged 59 months or younger. It looked at whether household food insecurity, household water insecurity, or both together were linked to diarrhoea, respiratory illness and stunting. Children in households with moderate-to-severe food insecurity had more diarrhoea and respiratory illness. Water insecurity was linked to more respiratory illness, and having both problems together was linked to more diarrhoea and respiratory illness. No link was found with stunting. The authors conclude that policies should address both food and water insecurity.
Key points
- Moderate-severe household food insecurity was associated with higher prevalence of diarrhoea (PR = 1.39; 95% CI: 1.18, 1.63) and respiratory illness (PR = 1.34; 95% CI: 1.22, 1.47).
- Household water insecurity was associated with higher prevalence of respiratory illness (PR = 1.13; 95% CI: 1.04, 1.22).
- Concurrent food and water insecurity was associated with higher prevalence of diarrhoea (PR = 1.30; 95% CI: 1.05, 1.62) and respiratory illness (PR = 1.45; 95% CI: 1.29, 1.62).
- Stunting was not associated with food insecurity, water insecurity or both together.
- The authors call for policies and interventions that tackle both food and water insecurity.
Limitations
The data are cross-sectional, so the study shows associations but cannot show that food or water insecurity caused the illnesses. Diarrhoea and respiratory illness were reported by mothers or caregivers for the previous 2 weeks, so they may be misreported.
Abstract
AbstractHousehold food and water insecurity has been previously associated with adverse health consequences in children. However, these relationships are understudied in middle‐income Latin American populations such as in Ecuador, where a high prevalence of food and water insecurity has been reported. Using cross‐sectional data from 2018 Ecuadorian National Health and Nutrition Survey, we examined the association of household food insecurity (HFI), household water insecurity (HWI), and concurrent HFI‐HWI with diarrhoea, respiratory illness (RI), and stunting in 20,510 children aged ≤59 months. HFI was measured using the Food Insecurity Experience Scale. HWI was defined when households responded negatively to one or more of four drinking water indicators. Maternal caregivers reported on child diarrhoea and RI episodes during the previous 2 weeks. Measured length or height was used to assess stunting. We constructed log‐binomial regression models to estimate the associations of HFI, HWI, and concurrent HFI‐HWI with child outcomes. Moderate‐severe HFI was associated with a higher prevalence of diarrhoea (PR = 1.39; 95% CI: 1.18, 1.63) and RI (PR = 1.34; 95% CI: 1.22, 1.47), HWI with a higher prevalence of RI (PR = 1.13; 95% CI: 1.04, 1.22), and concurrent HFI‐HWI with a higher prevalence of diarrhoea (PR = 1.30; 95% CI: 1.05, 1.62) and RI (PR = 1.45; 95% CI: 1.29, 1.62). Stunting was not associated with HFI, HWI nor concurrent HFI‐HWI. These findings suggest that HFI and HWI can independently and jointly act to negatively affect children's health. Policies and interventions aimed at alleviating both food and water insecurity are needed to bring sustained health improvements in Ecuadorian children.