Relationship of household food insecurity to anaemia in children aged 6-59 months among families in rural Indonesia

Background: Anaemia is a significant global public health problem in developing countries with adverse health effects on young children. Household food insecurity, which reflects a household’s access, availability and utilisation of food, has not been well characterised in relation to anaemia in children.

Objective: To examine the relationship of household food insecurity with anaemia (Hb <11 g/dl) in children.

Methods: In a cross-sectional study of 4940 rural households participating in the Indonesian Nutrition Surveillance System, household food insecurity was measured using a modified 9-item food security questionnaire and related to anaemia in children aged 6–59 months.

Results: The proportion of households with an anaemic child was 56·6%. In households with and without anaemic children, the mean (SD) food insecurity score was 1·82 (1·72) vs 1·55 (1·54) (p<0·0001), respectively. In a multivariate logistic regression model, food insecurity score was related to anaemia in children (odds ratio 0·77, 95% confidence interval 0·63–0·95, p = 0·01) when the highest quintile of food insecurity score was compared with the lowest quintile, adjusting for potential confounders.

Conclusion: A higher household food insecurity score is associated with greater prevalence of anaemia in children in rural families in Indonesia.