Prevalence and Determinants of Chronic Diseases Among Food Pantry Users in Washoe County
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Authors
Nyarko, Sandra
Issue Date
2025
Type
Thesis
Language
en_US
Keywords
Alternative Title
Abstract
Chronic conditions remain a public health concern leading to mortality globally and locally. The incidence of chronic disease has been associated with food insecurity, as individuals in these populations do not have access to healthcare and nutritionally safe foods due to financial constraints. The inception of food assistance programs in the early 1990’s was to relieve food-insecure individuals of the burden that comes with being food-insecure. Many studies have shown associations between food insecurity and chronic diseases, however, there are limited studies among food pantry users. This study aims to estimate the prevalence of chronic disease and determine the associated sociodemographic risk factors among food pantry users in Washoe County. The study used a cross-sectional study design. Face-to-face interviews in both English and Spanish were conducted among food pantry users, 18 years and above at the selected food pantry sites. Data on self-reported chronic disease including obesity, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, hypertension, and stroke as well as sociodemographic variables were collected and analyzed using SPSS. Descriptive statistics, to estimate prevalence, chi-square test, and logistic regression were used to study associations and determine risk factors. Among the 250 participants included in this study, 61.2% reported having at least one chronic disease, with diabetes being the most prevalent. Also, 38% reported having two or more chronic diseases. There was a significant association between chronic disease and food insecurity, age, annual income, and employment (p<0.05). Food-insecure participants had higher odds of self-reported chronic conditions as compared to those food-secure (AOR 2.281; 95% CI, 1.315-3.955). The determinants of food insecurity in the population were age, income, and food security status.
The findings of this study highlight the need for targeted interventions that address both food insecurity and chronic disease management among food pantry users. Future research should examine pantry users’ lived experiences, including barriers to accessing nutritious food and perceptions of pantry quality. Longitudinal studies could help establish causal relationships between food insecurity, pantry use, and health outcomes.