Seminar on “The Impact of Food Insecurity on Health Status, Suicidal Ideation and Quality of Life Among Adults Living in Poverty: A Study in Urban Slums of Bangladesh”

Title:  The Impact of Food Insecurity on Health Status, Suicidal Ideation and Quality of Life Among Adults Living in Poverty: A Study in Urban Slums of Bangladesh

Abstract:

Food insecurity is an ongoing public health issue in developing countries, including Bangladesh, exacerbated by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. It has considerable health impacts on the physical, social, and psychological status of individuals in communities suffering from food insecurity. This study aimed to determine factors associated with household food insecurity, physical illness, suicidal ideation, and quality of life. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 698 adults in the Mirpur and Tongi slum region in Bangladesh using a semi-structured questionnaire. The analysis found that the prevalence of food insecurity was high among adults who are 40 years old and in households with larger family sizes; individuals without education were at higher risk of food insecurity; day laborers and transport drivers were at the highest risk of food; property owner was at lower risk of food insecurity compared to who does not have any types of property. The prevalence of food insecurity was also high among people who were suffering from different kinds of physical illness compared to healthy people. Divorced or widowed individuals were more likely to be food insecure than single individuals. Food insecurity was also associated with quality of life negatively. Lower socio-economic status, poor quality of life, and pandemic-induced work loss affected household food insecurity. It is suggested that any interventions with financial aid and complemented food distributions, particularly among the wage looser, may improve food insecurity.

Speaker:

Md. Hasinur Rahaman Khan

Professor, ISRT, University of Dhaka

Time and. Date:                    September 20, 2.00:3.00 PM

Sponsor:                                 Centennial Research Grant (CRG), University of Dhaka