Effect of Food Insecurity on Nutritional Status of Reproductive Age Women of Squatter Settlement of Pokhara Metropolitan, Kaski, Nepal

Abstract

Background: Food insecurity is the situation that exists when all people, at all times, didn’t have secure access to enough amounts of safe and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs for an active and healthy life. However, the nutritional status of women can be determined by family care and household food security as they are keepers of family health. So, this study was conducted to assess the effect of food insecurity on the nutritional status of reproductive-age women and its determinants in squatter settlement.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out in the squatter settlement of Pokhara Metropolitan. A multistage sampling procedure was used to get the required sample size i.e., 426. Reproductive age group women (15-49 years) were selected because of their central role in food preparation and distribution. Household Food Insecurity Access Scale was used to collect information based on a 30-day recall period.   
Results: Nearly two-thirds (65%) of household food insecurity was found in the squatter settlement of Pokhara Metropolitan. While assessing the nutritional status of reproductive-age women it was found that 38.1% were overweight and 13.6% were underweight women. Factors such as age, dependent members in a family, educational status, occupational status, age during the marriage, age during the first pregnancy, parity, the number of children, and household food insecurity were associated with the BMI of respondents at a 95% confidence level. We found a strong direct effect on respondent’s education (OR=2.036, C.I: 1.321-3.136), occupation (OR=2.014, C.I: 1.295-3.132), and household food insecurity (OR=1.629, C.I: 1.088-2.439).  
Conclusion:  The study highlights a need for nutrition and food security programs. Improving the educational status of women will help them to get financially independent which can improve household food security and maintain the healthy weight of women in slums.