Food Security Experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Families with Young Children in An Urban Setting: Influencing Factors and Coping Strategies
Evidence on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ food security experiences and coping strategies used when food insecurity occurs is limited. Such evidence is important to inform policies that can reduce the consequences of food insecurity. This study investigated factors perceiv...
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doaj-fa06420989a649b4b145d9f9669e58982020-11-25T00:56:45ZengMDPI AGInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health1660-46012018-11-011512264910.3390/ijerph15122649ijerph15122649Food Security Experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Families with Young Children in An Urban Setting: Influencing Factors and Coping StrategiesLeisa McCarthy0Anne B. Chang1Julie Brimblecombe2Menzies School of Health Research, 0870 Darwin, AustraliaMenzies School of Health Research, 0870 Darwin, AustraliaMenzies School of Health Research, 0870 Darwin, AustraliaEvidence on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ food security experiences and coping strategies used when food insecurity occurs is limited. Such evidence is important to inform policies that can reduce the consequences of food insecurity. This study investigated factors perceived by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families with young children to influence household food security, and coping strategies used, in an urban setting. A qualitative research inductive approach was used. Data were collected through an iterative process of inquiry through initial interviews with 30 primary care-givers, followed by in-depth interviews with six participants to further explore emerging themes. Major topics explored were: influencing factors, food insecurity experiences, impact on food selection, and coping strategies. Food affordability relating to income and living expenses was a major barrier to a healthy diet with large household bills impacting food choice and meal quality. Access to family support was the main reported coping strategy. Food insecurity is experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families, it is largely intermittent occurring especially when large household bills are due for payment. Family support provides an essential safety net and the implications of this are important to consider in public policy to address food insecurity.https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/15/12/2649food securityfood insecurityAboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populationchildrenurbanexperiencescoping strategies |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Leisa McCarthy Anne B. Chang Julie Brimblecombe |
spellingShingle |
Leisa McCarthy Anne B. Chang Julie Brimblecombe Food Security Experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Families with Young Children in An Urban Setting: Influencing Factors and Coping Strategies International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health food security food insecurity Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population children urban experiences coping strategies |
author_facet |
Leisa McCarthy Anne B. Chang Julie Brimblecombe |
author_sort |
Leisa McCarthy |
title |
Food Security Experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Families with Young Children in An Urban Setting: Influencing Factors and Coping Strategies |
title_short |
Food Security Experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Families with Young Children in An Urban Setting: Influencing Factors and Coping Strategies |
title_full |
Food Security Experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Families with Young Children in An Urban Setting: Influencing Factors and Coping Strategies |
title_fullStr |
Food Security Experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Families with Young Children in An Urban Setting: Influencing Factors and Coping Strategies |
title_full_unstemmed |
Food Security Experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Families with Young Children in An Urban Setting: Influencing Factors and Coping Strategies |
title_sort |
food security experiences of aboriginal and torres strait islander families with young children in an urban setting: influencing factors and coping strategies |
publisher |
MDPI AG |
series |
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health |
issn |
1660-4601 |
publishDate |
2018-11-01 |
description |
Evidence on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ food security experiences and coping strategies used when food insecurity occurs is limited. Such evidence is important to inform policies that can reduce the consequences of food insecurity. This study investigated factors perceived by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families with young children to influence household food security, and coping strategies used, in an urban setting. A qualitative research inductive approach was used. Data were collected through an iterative process of inquiry through initial interviews with 30 primary care-givers, followed by in-depth interviews with six participants to further explore emerging themes. Major topics explored were: influencing factors, food insecurity experiences, impact on food selection, and coping strategies. Food affordability relating to income and living expenses was a major barrier to a healthy diet with large household bills impacting food choice and meal quality. Access to family support was the main reported coping strategy. Food insecurity is experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families, it is largely intermittent occurring especially when large household bills are due for payment. Family support provides an essential safety net and the implications of this are important to consider in public policy to address food insecurity. |
topic |
food security food insecurity Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population children urban experiences coping strategies |
url |
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/15/12/2649 |
work_keys_str_mv |
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