Food Insecurity Among Pregnant Adolescents in Shama District

Abstract

Food is a source of energy for humans, and insufficient availability of food affects our health of all people, most especially pregnant adolescents. The purpose of this study was to examine food insecurity status among pregnant adolescents in the Shama District. The study applied the descriptive research design, and sampled 238 pregnant adolescents using the convenient sampling technique. Respondents were required to answer a 31-item Likert-type questionnaire that assessed food insecurity status, factors affecting food insecurity and health-related quality of life. From the analyses of data, it was revealed that food insecurity among pregnant adolescents in Shama was low (Mean= 1.92, SD= .84). Also, it was found that the key factors affecting food insecurity among pregnant adolescents in Shama was household size (Mean= 3.02, SD= .53), insufficient food supply (Mean= 2.68, SD= .52), and unstable income (Mean= 2.66, SD= .52). Furthermore, it was found that food insecurity is negatively and significantly correlated with both physical (r= -.576, p < .05) and mental health (r= -.446, p < .005) dimensions of health-related quality of life. Finally, there was a significant difference in food insecurity status with respect to the economic status of pregnant adolescent [F (2, 235), 9.260, p < .05]. It was concluded that food insecurity among pregnant adolescents in Shama District is low. Furthermore, food insecurity has a negative impact on the health-related quality of life of pregnant adolescents. It was recommended that attention should be paid nutritional need of pregnant adolescents in Shama District.