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Application of a Theoretical Model Toward Understanding Continued Food Insecurity Post Hurricane Katrina

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 July 2017

Lauren A. Clay Open the ORCID record for Lauren A. Clay [Opens in a new window] ,
Mia A. Papas ,
Kimberly Gill  and
David M. Abramson
Lauren A. Clay*
Affiliation:
D’Youville College, Health Services Administration, Buffalo, New York Disaster Research Center, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware
Mia A. Papas
Affiliation:
Value Institute, Christiana Care Health System, Newark, Delaware
Kimberly Gill
Affiliation:
Disaster Research Center, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware
David M. Abramson
Affiliation:
College of Global Public Health, New York University, New York, New York
*
Correspondence and reprint requests to Lauren Clay, PhD, MPH, Health Services Administration, D’Youville College, 320 Porter Avenue, KAB 429, Buffalo, NY 14201 (e-mail: clayl@dyc.edu).
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Abstract

Objective

Disaster recovery efforts focus on restoring basic needs to survivors, such as food, water, and shelter. However, long after the immediate recovery phase is over, some individuals will continue to experience unmet needs. Ongoing food insecurity has been identified as a post-disaster problem. There is a paucity of information regarding the factors that might place an individual at risk for continued food insecurity post disaster.

Methods

Using data from a sample (n=737) of households severely impacted by Hurricane Katrina, we estimated the associations between food insecurity and structural, physical and mental health, and psychosocial factors 5 years after Hurricane Katrina. Logistic regression models were fit and odds ratios (OR) and 95% CI estimated.

Results

Nearly one-quarter of respondents (23%) reported food insecurity 5 years post Katrina. Marital/partner status (OR: 0.7, CI: 0.42, 0.99), self-efficacy (OR: 0.56, CI: 0.37, 0.84), sense of community (OR: 0.7, CI: 0.44, 0.98), and social support (OR: 0.59, CI: 0.39, 0.89) lowered the odds of food insecurity and explained most of the effects of mental health distress on food insecurity. Social support, self-efficacy, and being partnered were protective against food insecurity.

Conclusions

Recovery efforts should focus on fostering social-support networks and increased self-efficacy to improve food insecurity post disaster. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2018;12:47–56)

Keywords

food insecurityHurricane Katrinadisaster recoverymental health
Type
Original Research
Information
Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness , Volume 12 , Issue 1 , February 2018 , pp. 47 - 56
Copyright
Copyright © Society for Disaster Medicine and Public Health, Inc. 2017 

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