Determinants of food insecurity in occupied Palestinian territory: a cross-sectional survey

• Published in: The Lancet (British edition) 2019-03, Vol.393, p.S4-S4
• Main Authors: Ahmadi, Davod, Melgar-Quiñonez, Hugo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Confidence; Cross-sectional studies; Dependent variables; Developed countries; Developing countries; Economic conditions; Economics; Education; Females; Food; Food security; Health; Income; Independent variables; LDCs; Polls & surveys; Population (statistical); Poverty; Regression analysis; Rural areas; Statistical analysis; Territory
• ISSN: 0140-6736; 1474-547X
• DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(19)30590-2

Food insecurity is a major issue facing Palestinians. According to the latest statistics (from 2014), 1·6 million people in Palestinian territory are food insecure. Specifically, 20% of the population of the West Bank and over 50% of the population of the Gaza Strip live in food insecurity. High rates of poverty, high food prices, and economic shocks influence food insecurity. The objective of this study was to explore the major determinants of food insecurity in Palestinian territory. Data from the Gallup World Poll (GWP) from 2014 to 2017 were used (n=1000 per year). The target population in the GWP is the entire civilian non-institutionalised population aged 15 years and older. All sample selection is probability based and nationally representative. The GWP surveys an average of 1000 sample individuals per country. The Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES) was used as the dependent variable. The FIES measures individuals' food security status, and it is composed of eight questions with simple dichotomous responses (1=yes, 0=no). Respondents are asked whether, at any time during a certain reference period, they have worried about their ability to obtain enough food, their household has run out of food, or they have been forced to compromise the quality or quantity of the food that they ate owing to limited availability of money or other resources to obtain food. Sociodemographic, economic-related, and health factors were used as the independent variables. Different statistical analyses, such as descriptive, unadjusted, and adjusted binary logistic regression were carried out. Results from descriptive analysis showed significant differences in the frequency of severe food insecurity status on the FIES scale between 2014 and 2017 (2014, 27·3%; 2015, 26·0%; 2016, 22·1%; 2017, 24·6%). In terms of economy-related factors, more than 50% of the sample reported no confidence in national government, and more than three-quarters of the sample reported low local job opportunities. Approximately 55% of the sample reported having poor personal health. Findings from unadjusted logistic regression indicated that food insecurity was highest among the poorest 20% (odds ratio [OR] 25·64; p