The relationship between austerity and food insecurity in the UK: A systematic review
Background: In 2010, the UK government implemented austerity measures, involving reductions to public spending and welfare reform. We aimed to systematically review the relationship of austerity policies with food insecurity including foodbank use in the UK. Methods: We undertook a narrative systema...
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doaj-3ecd62ca0848417894f4347de9c5fc5a2021-03-27T04:28:51ZengElsevierEClinicalMedicine2589-53702021-03-0133100781The relationship between austerity and food insecurity in the UK: A systematic reviewRosemary H. Jenkins0Shirin Aliabadi1Eszter P. Vamos2David Taylor-Robinson3Sophie Wickham4Christopher Millett5Anthony A. Laverty6Public Health Policy Evaluation Unit, Department of Primary Care and Public Health, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, Charing Cross Campus; The Reynolds Building; St Dunstan's Road; London W6 8RP, UK; Corresponding author.Global Digital Health Unit, Department of Primary Care and Public Health, Imperial College London, London, UKPublic Health Policy Evaluation Unit, Department of Primary Care and Public Health, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, Charing Cross Campus; The Reynolds Building; St Dunstan's Road; London W6 8RP, UKDepartment of Public Health, Policy and Systems, Institute of Population Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UKDepartment of Public Health, Policy and Systems, Institute of Population Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UKPublic Health Policy Evaluation Unit, Department of Primary Care and Public Health, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, Charing Cross Campus; The Reynolds Building; St Dunstan's Road; London W6 8RP, UKPublic Health Policy Evaluation Unit, Department of Primary Care and Public Health, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, Charing Cross Campus; The Reynolds Building; St Dunstan's Road; London W6 8RP, UKBackground: In 2010, the UK government implemented austerity measures, involving reductions to public spending and welfare reform. We aimed to systematically review the relationship of austerity policies with food insecurity including foodbank use in the UK. Methods: We undertook a narrative systematic review (CRD42020164508) and searched seven databases, grey literature, and reference lists through September 2020. Studies with austerity policies (including welfare reform) as exposure and food insecurity (including foodbank use as a proxy) as study outcome were included. We included quantitative longitudinal and cross-sectional studies. Two reviewers assessed eligibility, extracted data directly from studies, and undertook quality assessment. Findings: Eight studies were included: two individual-level studies totalling 4129 participants and six ecological studies. All suggested a relationship between austerity and increased food insecurity. Two studies found that austerity policies were associated with increased food insecurity in European countries including the UK. Six studies found that the welfare reform aspect of UK austerity policies was associated with increased food insecurity and foodbank use. Sanctions involving delays to benefits as a response to a claimant not actively seeking work may increase food insecurity, with studies finding that increases of 100 sanctions per 100,000 people may have led to increases of between 2 and 36 food parcels per 100,000 population. Interpretation: UK austerity policies were consistently linked to food insecurity and foodbank use. Policymakers should consider impacts of austerity on food insecurity when considering how to reduce budget deficits. Funding: NIHR School for Public Health Research.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589537021000614AusterityWelfare reformFood insecurityFoodbankFood aidPublic health |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Rosemary H. Jenkins Shirin Aliabadi Eszter P. Vamos David Taylor-Robinson Sophie Wickham Christopher Millett Anthony A. Laverty |
spellingShingle |
Rosemary H. Jenkins Shirin Aliabadi Eszter P. Vamos David Taylor-Robinson Sophie Wickham Christopher Millett Anthony A. Laverty The relationship between austerity and food insecurity in the UK: A systematic review EClinicalMedicine Austerity Welfare reform Food insecurity Foodbank Food aid Public health |
author_facet |
Rosemary H. Jenkins Shirin Aliabadi Eszter P. Vamos David Taylor-Robinson Sophie Wickham Christopher Millett Anthony A. Laverty |
author_sort |
Rosemary H. Jenkins |
title |
The relationship between austerity and food insecurity in the UK: A systematic review |
title_short |
The relationship between austerity and food insecurity in the UK: A systematic review |
title_full |
The relationship between austerity and food insecurity in the UK: A systematic review |
title_fullStr |
The relationship between austerity and food insecurity in the UK: A systematic review |
title_full_unstemmed |
The relationship between austerity and food insecurity in the UK: A systematic review |
title_sort |
relationship between austerity and food insecurity in the uk: a systematic review |
publisher |
Elsevier |
series |
EClinicalMedicine |
issn |
2589-5370 |
publishDate |
2021-03-01 |
description |
Background: In 2010, the UK government implemented austerity measures, involving reductions to public spending and welfare reform. We aimed to systematically review the relationship of austerity policies with food insecurity including foodbank use in the UK. Methods: We undertook a narrative systematic review (CRD42020164508) and searched seven databases, grey literature, and reference lists through September 2020. Studies with austerity policies (including welfare reform) as exposure and food insecurity (including foodbank use as a proxy) as study outcome were included. We included quantitative longitudinal and cross-sectional studies. Two reviewers assessed eligibility, extracted data directly from studies, and undertook quality assessment. Findings: Eight studies were included: two individual-level studies totalling 4129 participants and six ecological studies. All suggested a relationship between austerity and increased food insecurity. Two studies found that austerity policies were associated with increased food insecurity in European countries including the UK. Six studies found that the welfare reform aspect of UK austerity policies was associated with increased food insecurity and foodbank use. Sanctions involving delays to benefits as a response to a claimant not actively seeking work may increase food insecurity, with studies finding that increases of 100 sanctions per 100,000 people may have led to increases of between 2 and 36 food parcels per 100,000 population. Interpretation: UK austerity policies were consistently linked to food insecurity and foodbank use. Policymakers should consider impacts of austerity on food insecurity when considering how to reduce budget deficits. Funding: NIHR School for Public Health Research. |
topic |
Austerity Welfare reform Food insecurity Foodbank Food aid Public health |
url |
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589537021000614 |
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