A Multi-Site Analysis of the Prevalence of Food Insecurity in the United States, before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic profoundly affected food systems including food security. Understanding how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted food security is important to provide support and identify long-term impacts and needs. Objective: The National Food Access and COVID research Team (NFACT) was formed to assess food security over different US study sites throughout the pandemic, using common instruments and measurements. This study presents results from 18 study sites across 15 states and nationally over the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A validated survey instrument was developed and implemented in whole or part through an online survey of adults across the sites throughout the first year of the pandemic, representing 22 separate surveys. Sampling methods for each study site were convenience, representative, or high-risk targeted. Food security was measured using the USDA 6-item module. Food security prevalence was analyzed using ANOVA by sampling method to assess statistically significant differences. Results: Respondents (n = 27,168) indicate higher prevalence of food insecurity (low or very low food security) since the COVID-19 pandemic, compared with before the pandemic. In nearly all study sites, there is a higher prevalence of food insecurity among Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC), households with children, and those with job disruptions. The findings demonstrate lingering food insecurity, with high prevalence over time in sites with repeat cross-sectional surveys. There are no statistically significant differences between convenience and representative surveys, but a statistically higher prevalence of food insecurity among high-risk compared with convenience surveys. Conclusions: This comprehensive study demonstrates a higher prevalence of food insecurity in the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. These impacts were prevalent for certain demographic groups, and most pronounced for surveys targeting high-risk populations. Results especially document the continued high levels of food insecurity, as well as the variability in estimates due to the survey implementation method

Sustainable Development & the Year of the Nurse & Midwife -- 2020

The year 2020 marks the 200th anniversary of Florence Nightingale\u27s birth and the 100th of her death. The World Health Organization is marking the year by highlighting the contributions of nurses and midwives to healthcare systems around the world, designating it as the year of the nurse and midwife. In support of that endeavor, we have assembled a collection of global voices of nurses, midwives, and their interdisciplinary partners for an editorial series highlighting nurses and midwives contribution to achieving United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The sustainable development goals are the next evolution of the Millennium Development Goals with one key difference: The sustainable development goals are for all countries, not just low- and middle-income ones. A collection of 17 global goals, the sustainable development goals are the first time humanity has come together to agree on key areas for promoting a better quality of life for all people, regardless of where they live, work, and play