A78: Working Towards a Refined Definition of Post-Disaster Food Insecurity

Presenter(s)

Jill Mark

Abstract or Description

Background: Food insecurity is traditionally defined as a chronic condition linked to insufficient income, but the condition in post-disaster contexts may differ significantly, often with a sudden onset and a temporary nature. There is no specific definition for post-disaster food insecurity, making accurate data collection and effective intervention difficult.

Methods: To begin addressing this issue, we performed a pilot survey study (n=22) in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria to evaluate food insecurity status, duration, and causes.

Results: Over half of respondents self-claimed that they experienced food insecurity following Hurricane Maria. In general, food insecure respondents experienced more specific food group shortages that lasted longer than for food secure respondents. Our findings reveal that the duration of food shortages significantly influenced participants' perceptions of food insecurity. The primary causes of food insecurity were identified as grocery store closures, a lack of food in stores, or other reasons not listed in the survey. These findings support what is known about the post-disaster setting with supply chain issues being a prominent mechanism of food insecurity as well as there being multiple mechanisms difficult to encompass due to the complexity of the situation.          

Conclusions: Our results highlight the need for refined definitions and assessments of post-disaster food insecurity that account for the temporal aspects of food shortages and the complexity of the post-disaster setting. As climate change exacerbates the frequency and severity of natural disasters, addressing the nuances of post-disaster food insecurity becomes increasingly urgent to mitigate associated health risks.