P3.D071: Food Insecurity and Pediatric Health: A Retrospective Analysis of the Survey of Well-being of Young Children at an Indian Health Service Facility

Background: Social determinants of health are nonmedical factors, such as education, income, and food insecurity, that influence one's health. Food insecurity, the inability to procure sufficient nutritional resources to sustain a healthy lifestyle, affects 1 in 7 U.S. households with children. Further, Native American children consistently face more barriers to healthcare and report poorer health outcomes. The Survey of Well-being of Young Children (SWYC) is a comprehensive screening tool for development, behavior, autism, food insecurity, parental depression, domestic violence, and drug and alcohol use. This screener was given out to all children 5 years of age or less at their well child checks for over the past 2 and a half years at a Tribal Health facility. Statistical analysis was performed to compare food insecurity with other delays or concerns on the screener.

Methods: Chi Square, odds ratio (OD), and relative risk (RR) were compared for those with food insecurity and those without in relation to developmental delays, behavioral issues, autism, parental concerns, parental tobacco/substance use, parental mental health codings, intimate partner violence between parents, and parental emotional changes.

Results: All ODs and RRs were >1, suggesting that food insecurity leads to an increased risk of developmental delays, behavioral issues, autism, parental concerns, parental tobacco/substance use, parental mental health codings, intimate partner violence between parents, and parental emotional changes. The lowest OD/RR was 1.28/1.26 respectively for developmental delays. The highest OD/RR was 8.57 and 6.51 respectively for concurrent parental mental health codings.

Conclusion: Food insecurity is highly correlated with increases in all adverse outcomes of the SWYC screening tool. Social determinants of health play a key role in the development of young children and their ability to keep up with their peers. Screening for these issues can help in both the short term as well as in the long term for children and families.