Household Income and its Correlation with Child Hunger During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

ABSTRACT This study investigates the prevalence of household food insecurity and child hunger during the COVID-19 pandemic, alongside the relationships between household income and the occurrence of child hunger. Socio-demographic characteristics, including monthly household income, gender, and age of the surveyed child were parent-reported. The validated 10-item Radimer/Cornell Hunger and Food Insecurity Instrument was adopted to assess household food insecurity, parental food insecurity, and child hunger during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study revealed that children from low-income and food-insecure households were significantly at a heightened risk for child hunger. In conclusion, the pandemic lockdowns exacerbated child hunger in low-income households. Children from low-income households need continued assistance in alleviating hunger during the COVID-19 global economic recession. SUMMARY During MCO 2.0, the overall food insecurity was 67.6%, with 24.1% household food insecurity, 13.8% parental food insecurity, and 29.7% child hunger. Children from low-income and food-insecure households were significantly at a heightened risk for child hunger.