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Neighborhood Unsafety, Discrimination, and Food Insecurity among Nigerians Aged 15–49

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  • Chukwuemeka E. Ogbu

    (Chiles Center, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33612, USA)

  • Chisa O. Oparanma

    (Department of Medicine, Kharkiv National Medical University, 61022 Kharkiv, Ukraine)

  • Stella C. Ogbu

    (Department of Biomedical Science, School of Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA)

  • Otobo I. Ujah

    (Chiles Center, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33612, USA)

  • Ndugba S. Chinenye

    (Department of Medical Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA)

  • Chidera P. Ogbu

    (Department of Biochemistry, Saint Joseph’s University, Philadelphia, PA 19074, USA)

  • Russell S. Kirby

    (Chiles Center, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33612, USA)

Abstract

We investigated the association between discrimination, neighborhood unsafety, and household food insecurity (FI) among Nigerian adults, as well as the gender-specific differences in these associations. Our analysis utilized data from the 2021 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS), comprising 56,146 Nigerian adults aged 15–49 (17,346 males and 38,800 females). For bivariate analysis, we employed the Rao–Scott chi-square test to examine the relationship between predictors (discrimination, neighborhood unsafety, and a composite variable of both) and the outcome variable (FI). Food insecurity was assessed using both a dichotomous measure (food insecure vs. food secure) and a multinomial variable (food secure, mild FI, moderate FI, and severe FI). To model the association between predictors and FI while controlling for potential confounding factors, we utilized weighted binary and multinomial logistic regression. Among Nigerian adults, the prevalence of having ever experienced FI was 86.1%, with the prevalence of mild FI, moderate FI, and severe FI being 11.5%, 30.1%, and 44.5%, respectively. In the binary model, experiencing discrimination (OR = 1.36, 95% CI = 1.19–1.55), living in an unsafe neighborhood (OR = 1.33, 95% CI = 1.14–1.54), and facing both discrimination and unsafe neighborhood conditions (OR = 1.97, 95% CI = 1.57–2.48) were significantly associated with FI. In the multinomial model, discrimination, neighborhood unsafety, and experiencing both remained associated with moderate and severe FI. In the gender-specific models, discrimination and neighborhood unsafety were found to be significantly associated with FI in women but not in men. This study underscores the importance of implementing policies and programs that address the underlying causes of food insecurity, with specific attention to discrimination and neighborhood safety concerns, particularly for Nigerian women.

Suggested Citation

  • Chukwuemeka E. Ogbu & Chisa O. Oparanma & Stella C. Ogbu & Otobo I. Ujah & Ndugba S. Chinenye & Chidera P. Ogbu & Russell S. Kirby, 2023. "Neighborhood Unsafety, Discrimination, and Food Insecurity among Nigerians Aged 15–49," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(17), pages 1-14, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:17:p:6624-:d:1222303
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Broussard, Nzinga H., 2019. "What explains gender differences in food insecurity?," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 83(C), pages 180-194.
    2. Pam Phojanakong & Emily Brown Weida & Gabriella Grimaldi & Félice Lê-Scherban & Mariana Chilton, 2019. "Experiences of Racial and Ethnic Discrimination Are Associated with Food Insecurity and Poor Health," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(22), pages 1-13, November.
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