Impact of the Pandemic on Food Security on Households with Children with Special Health Care Needs in Puerto Rico: A Survey Study

Abstract

Objective: This study examined how the COVID-19 pandemic contributed to food insecurity in households in Puerto Rico with children with disabilities, compared to households with children without disabilities. Methods: The present study used a 2-group, cross-sectional design. Participants were interviewed once to describe experiences of food insecurity during the 12 months before the COVID-19 pandemic and again during the pandemic lockdown. In addition, demographic characteristics and mental and physical health were assessed. Results: Before the COVID-19 pandemic, food insecurity in Puerto Rico was significantly higher in households with children with disabilities (n = 48) than in households with children without disabilities (n = 49) (P < .001). During the COVID-19 pandemic, this difference remained (P = .029). Food insecurity was higher before the pandemic among children in households with children with disabilities (odds ratio [OR]: 3.62; 95% CI:1.19–11.05), and in households overall (OR: 4.72; 95% CI: 1.83 12.14), when assessing adults and children in the same household. This was also true during the pandemic for households overall (OR: 2.54; 95% CI: 1.09–5.96), but to a lesser degree. Food insecurity was not statistically significant in children during the pandemic (OR: 2.56; 95% CI: 0.97–6.74). In both types of households, physical and mental health scores were more than 1 standard deviation below the United States mean. Conclusion: Both types of households experienced food insecurity during the pandemic. No relationship between food insecurity, disability, and health status was observed in the study sample. All the participants reported low physical and mental health.