Food insecurity is associated with depressive and anxiety symptoms among caregivers of young children in arid and semi-arid regions of Kenya: A cross-sectional study

IF 4.9 2区医学 Q1 CLINICAL NEUROLOGY

Journal of affective disorders Pub Date : 2025-06-21 DOI:10.1016/j.jad.2025.119754

Esther Jebor Chongwo , Anja C. Huizink , Daisy Chelangat , Eunice Njoroge , Barack Aoko , Martha Kaniala , Moses Esala , Phillis Magoma , Joyce Marangu , Margaret Kabue , Daniel Rabok , Susan Nyamanya , Anil Khamis , John Ng'asike , Abubakar Baasba , Siad Guyo , Amina Abubakar

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Introduction

This study fills a critical gap by assessing the prevalence and association between food insecurity and depressive and anxiety symptoms among caregivers of young children in Kenya's arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs).

Methods

A cross-sectional design was used to collect data from caregivers of children aged 0–3 years from Lamu, Isiolo and Turkana Counties (N = 446). Patient Health Questionnaire-9 and Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 scales were used to assess depressive and anxiety symptoms, respectively. We also administered the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale, alongside sociodemographic and health-related questionnaires.

Results

The mean caregiver age was 29.37 years (SD = 6.56). Majority of participants (73.09 %) lacked improved sanitation, and 33.86 % had their first pregnancy before age 18. High levels of depressive (22.4 %) and anxiety symptoms (11.2 %) were observed. Food insecurity was significantly associated with both depressive (β = 0.24, 95 % CI [0.18 to 0.30], p < 0.001) and anxiety (β = 0.15, 95 % CI [0.10 to 0.21], p < 0.001) symptoms. Increased maternal age, higher education, and having a child with chronic illness were significant risk factors for depressive and anxiety symptoms.

Conclusion

Depressive and anxiety symptoms are highly prevalent among caregivers in Kenya's ASAL and are significantly associated with food insecurity. These findings underscore the need for integrating mental health screening and support into maternal and child health programs and addressing food insecurity through multi-sectoral interventions. Further research is needed to explore the nexus between food insecurity, mental health, and other contextual factors influencing caregivers and child well-being in ASAL regions.

查看原文本刊更多论文

粮食不安全与肯尼亚干旱和半干旱地区幼儿照顾者的抑郁和焦虑症状有关：一项横断面研究。

本研究通过评估肯尼亚干旱和半干旱地区（ASALs）幼儿照顾者中粮食不安全与抑郁和焦虑症状之间的患病率和相关性，填补了一个关键的空白。方法：采用横断面设计收集来自Lamu、Isiolo和Turkana县（N = 446）0-3 岁儿童照顾者的数据。患者健康问卷-9和广泛性焦虑障碍-7分别用于评估抑郁和焦虑症状。我们还编制了家庭粮食不安全获取量表，以及社会人口统计和健康相关问卷。结果：护理者平均年龄为29.37 岁（SD = 6.56）。大多数参与者（73.09 %）缺乏改善的卫生设施，33.86 %在18岁之前第一次怀孕。观察到高水平的抑郁（22.4% %）和焦虑症状（11.2% %）。食物不安全与两种抑郁显著相关（β = 0.24,95% % CI[0.18至0.30],p ）结论：抑郁和焦虑症状在肯尼亚ASAL的照顾者中非常普遍，并且与食物不安全显著相关。这些发现强调需要将心理健康筛查和支持纳入孕产妇和儿童健康规划，并通过多部门干预措施解决粮食不安全问题。需要进一步的研究来探索食物不安全、心理健康和其他影响ASAL地区照顾者和儿童福祉的环境因素之间的联系。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Journal of affective disorders 医学-精神病学

CiteScore

10.90

自引率

6.10%

发文量

1319

审稿时长

9.3 weeks

期刊介绍： The Journal of Affective Disorders publishes papers concerned with affective disorders in the widest sense: depression, mania, mood spectrum, emotions and personality, anxiety and stress. It is interdisciplinary and aims to bring together different approaches for a diverse readership. Top quality papers will be accepted dealing with any aspect of affective disorders, including neuroimaging, cognitive neurosciences, genetics, molecular biology, experimental and clinical neurosciences, pharmacology, neuroimmunoendocrinology, intervention and treatment trials.