Household Food Insecurity Is Associated with Anemia in Adult Mexican Women of Reproductive Age

Abstract

Background: Anemia is a major cause of maternal mortality. Household food insecurity (HFI) may increase the risk of anemia among women of reproductive age although this hypothesis remains largely untested in representative samples from low- and middle-income countries.

Objective: Our objective was to investigate the association of HFI with anemia in a nationally representative, cross-sectional sample of Mexican women of reproductive age (12–49 y old).

Methods: We tested the association between HFI and anemia among 16,944 women of reproductive age using the multiple logistic regression among adolescent (12–20 y) and adult women (21–49 y). HFI was measured with the use of the Latin American and Caribbean Food Security Scale. Hemoglobin was measured with capillary hemoglobin with the use of HemoCue photometer (HemoCue, Inc.) and anemia was defined with the use of WHO standards.

Results: The association of HFI and anemia was not significant (P > 0.05) for adolescent women (12–20 y), whereas in adult women (21–49 y), the adjusted odds of having anemia were 31–43% higher among those living in mild to severely food insecure households than adult women residing in food secure households (P < 0.05).

Conclusions: HFI is associated with anemia among adult Mexican women. Programs that reduce HFI may also be effective at reducing the risk of anemia among Mexican women.