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Pathways linking household food insecurity to undernutrition among under 5 children in migrant populations along the Thailand-Myanmar border: A Structural Equation Modeling approach

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  • Saw Min Than
  • Thunwadee Suksaroj
  • Piyapong Janmaimool
  • Cheerawit Rattanapan

Abstract

Child malnutrition remains a global crisis, exacerbated in border regions by Myanmar’s post-2021 conflict. This study utilized Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) to examine the pathways linking household food insecurity (HFI) to undernutrition among migrant children along the Thailand–Myanmar border. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 384 mothers in Tak and Mae Hong Son provinces with children aged 6–59 months. Data were collected via multistage sampling, face-to-face interviews, and anthropometric assessments. HFI was measured using the HFIAS scale. Undernutrition affected 37.0% of children, with specific prevalence for stunting (18.0%), wasting (19.8%), and underweight (18.5%). HFI was prevalent in 63.8% of households and served as a central structural mediator; notably, nearly 40% of stunted children resided in severely food-insecure households. SEM results indicated that higher socio-economic status (SES) consistently improved HAZ (β = 0.230, p

Suggested Citation

  • Saw Min Than & Thunwadee Suksaroj & Piyapong Janmaimool & Cheerawit Rattanapan, 2026. "Pathways linking household food insecurity to undernutrition among under 5 children in migrant populations along the Thailand-Myanmar border: A Structural Equation Modeling approach," PLOS Global Public Health, Public Library of Science, vol. 6(8), pages 1-27, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pgph00:0006516
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0006516
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