In 2021, 10.2% of US households and 12.5% of US households with children were deemed food insecure with specific racial and ethnic groups having higher rates of food insecurity. Indeed, the risk of experiencing food insecurity is significantly higher for Black and Hispanic households. The objective of this study is to better understand how race and ethnicity in the United States influence food stamp usage. Methods: Data was obtained from the 2017-2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), an annual cross-sectional survey, and 16,211 permanent, non-institutionalized civilian U.S. residents were selected from 30 locations. Data from home and mobile examination center (MEC) interviews were collected, for a sample size of 8,265 participants. A univariate and bivariate statistical analysis was conducted to understand how race and ethnicity, the independent variable, was associated with food stamp usage, the dependent variable. Additionally, a binary logistic regression was conducted to identify associations between dependent and independent variables. Results and Discussion: About half of the participants indicated food stamp usage (47.1%). Compared to those that identified as non-Hispanic White, Mexican American (OR: 0.67, 95% CI: 0.57-0.79), other Hispanic (OR: 0.72 95% CI: 0.60-0.87), and non-Hispanic Asian (OR: 0.41, 95% CI: 0.34-0.50) were less likely to report food stamp usage, while those that identified as non-Hispanic Black (OR: 1.78, 95% CI: 1.56-2.30) and other races/multi-racial (OR: 1.29, 95% CI: 1.06-1.58) were more likely to report food stamp usage. Future studies could explore correlates of food insecurity in the US working to address causes of food insecurity and health-related concerns. As prospective healthcare providers, this study is relevant to understanding our future patient populations.
Author(s): Madison Miner, Public Health and Premedical Studies Major
Bunsi Chapadia, Public Health and Premedical Studies Major
Advisor(s): Saruna Ghimire, Department of Sociology and Gerontology
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