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Measuring and Understanding Food Insecurity in Australia: A Systematic Review

Author

Listed:
  • Fiona H. McKay

    (School of Health and Social Development, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Geelong, Waterfront Campus, Geelong, Victoria 3220, Australia)

  • Bronte C. Haines

    (School of Health and Social Development, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Geelong, Waterfront Campus, Geelong, Victoria 3220, Australia)

  • Matthew Dunn

    (School of Health and Social Development, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Geelong, Waterfront Campus, Geelong, Victoria 3220, Australia)

Abstract

The number of Australians seeking food aid has increased in recent years; however, the current variability in the measurement of food insecurity means that the prevalence and severity of food insecurity in Australia is likely underreported. This is compounded by infrequent national health surveys that measure food insecurity, resulting in outdated population-level food insecurity data. This review sought to investigate the breadth of food insecurity research conducted in Australia to evaluate how this construct is being measured. A systematic review was conducted to collate the available Australian research. Fifty-seven publications were reviewed. Twenty-two used a single-item measure to examine food security status; 11 used the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Household Food Security Survey Module (HFSSM); two used the Radimer/Cornell instrument; one used the Household Food and Nutrition Security Survey (HFNSS); while the remainder used a less rigorous or unidentified method. A wide range in prevalence and severity of food insecurity in the community was reported; food insecurity ranged from 2% to 90%, depending on the measurement tool and population under investigation. Based on the findings of this review, the authors suggest that there needs to be greater consistency in measuring food insecurity, and that work is needed to create a measure of food insecurity tailored for the Australian context. Such a tool will allow researchers to gain a clear understanding of the prevalence of food insecurity in Australia to create better policy and practice responses.

Suggested Citation

  • Fiona H. McKay & Bronte C. Haines & Matthew Dunn, 2019. "Measuring and Understanding Food Insecurity in Australia: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(3), pages 1-27, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:16:y:2019:i:3:p:476-:d:203845
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Quynh Lê & Stuart Auckland & Hoang Boi Nguyen & Sandra Murray & Gretchen Long & Daniel R. Terry, 2015. "The Socio-Economic and Physical Contributors to Food Insecurity in a Rural Community," SAGE Open, , vol. 5(1), pages 21582440145, January.
    2. repec:mpr:mprres:5077 is not listed on IDEAS
    3. Smith, Michael D. & Rabbitt, Matthew P. & Coleman- Jensen, Alisha, 2017. "Who are the World’s Food Insecure? New Evidence from the Food and Agriculture Organization’s Food Insecurity Experience Scale," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 93(C), pages 402-412.
    4. Stephanie L. Godrich & Johnny Lo & Christina R. Davies & Jill Darby & Amanda Devine, 2017. "Which Food Security Determinants Predict Adequate Vegetable Consumption among Rural Western Australian Children?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(1), pages 1-15, January.
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    Cited by:

    1. Elias M. A. Militao & Elsa M. Salvador & Olalekan A. Uthman & Stig Vinberg & Gloria Macassa, 2022. "Food Insecurity and Health Outcomes Other than Malnutrition in Southern Africa: A Descriptive Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(9), pages 1-18, April.
    2. Kimberley A. Baxter & Smita Nambiar & Tsz Hei Jeffrey So & Danielle Gallegos & Rebecca Byrne, 2022. "Parental Feeding Practices in Families Experiencing Food Insecurity: A Scoping Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(9), pages 1-43, May.
    3. Megan C. Whatnall & Melinda J. Hutchesson & Amanda J. Patterson, 2019. "Predictors of Food Insecurity among Australian University Students: A Cross-Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(1), pages 1-10, December.
    4. Brittany J. Johnson & Dorota Zarnowiecki & Claire L. Hutchinson & Rebecca K. Golley, 2020. "Stakeholder Generated Ideas for Alternative School Food Provision Models in Australia Using the Nominal Group Technique," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(21), pages 1-12, October.
    5. Thorpe, Karen & Potia, Azhar Hussain & Searle, Bonnie & Van Halen, Olivia & Lakeman, Nicole & Oakes, Candice & Harris, Holly & Staton, Sally, 2022. "Meal provision in early childhood education and care programs: Association with geographic disadvantage, social disadvantage, cost, and market competition in an Australian population," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 312(C).
    6. Elena Carrillo-Álvarez & Blanca Salinas-Roca & Lluís Costa-Tutusaus & Raimon Milà-Villarroel & Nithya Shankar Krishnan, 2021. "The Measurement of Food Insecurity in High-Income Countries: A Scoping Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(18), pages 1-57, September.
    7. Amber Bastian & Courtney Parks & Fiona H. McKay & Paige van der Pligt & Amy Yaroch & Sarah A. McNaughton & Rebecca Lindberg, 2022. "Development of a Comprehensive Household Food Security Tool for Families with Young Children and/or Pregnant Women in High Income Countries," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(17), pages 1-17, August.
    8. Ami N. Seivwright & Zoe Callis & Paul Flatau, 2020. "Food Insecurity and Socioeconomic Disadvantage in Australia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(2), pages 1-13, January.
    9. Courtney A. Parks & Amber Bastian & Rebecca Lindberg & Fiona H. McKay & Paige Pligt & Amy L. Yaroch, 2022. "Food insecurity among parents of young children in the United States and Australia: focusing on etiology and outcomes," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 14(6), pages 1499-1502, December.
    10. Olutosin Ademola Otekunrin & Ridwan Mukaila & Oluwaseun Aramide Otekunrin, 2023. "Investigating and Quantifying Food Insecurity in Nigeria: A Systematic Review," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-38, September.

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