Maternal and infant food insecurity in the UK: a problem hiding in plain sight?

Douglas, F.; MacIver, E.; Davis, T.; Littlejohn, C.

Abstract

Lone parents with children under five are amongst the most food insecure in the UK (Cheong et al, 2021; Tobi et al, 2022). Yet maternal and infant food insecurity experience remains poorly understood in the UK. Drawing on findings from qualitative research conducted with parents of infants and young children, and early years health professionals, this paper highlights the hidden nature of poverty and food insecurity amongst young mothers and asks questions about the extent to which this problem is recognised and understood within health care. Two interview studies were conducted during 2020 and 2021 with 22 participants in north-east Scotland, including pregnant women and mothers with at least one child under five. One study included interviews with 18 midwives, health visitors and family nurses (HCP). The studies investigated experiences of parenting on a low income, and health professional support related to financial hardship challenges during pregnancy and early infancy. health professionals' perceptions of poverty within caseloads and experiences of raising financial issues during practice were also investigated. Data were thematically analysed using Grounded Theory principles. Key parent themes included: inadequate social security income co-existing with restricted access to paid employment; anxieties around food and other resource provision for their children; going without food themselves; and relying on charity or extended family for help with feeding. Fear of raising child protection concerns, shame and embarrassment, and exacerbating partner abuse prevented parents disclosing financial hardship and food insecurity to health professionals. Health professionals themselves were aware of poverty within some households, but not universally confident they could recognise the problem. They were also inhibited from raising the issue both because of poverty stigma, and further because of a lack of time and knowledge regarding how to do so effectively. Our findings point to the economic, nutritional and social vulnerability of lone parents that existed before the current cost-of-living crisis. As mothers continue to remain responsible for infant feeding - either as food producers themselves or through infant formula procurement from commercial sources (Frank, 2018; Doonan, 2018) - there is an urgent need to develop a better understanding of the nature and extent of maternal and infant food security in the UK, to develop more effective public policy and health care practice.

Citation

DOUGLAS, F., MACIVER, E., DAVIS, T. and LITTLEJOHN, C. 2023. Maternal and infant food insecurity in the UK: a problem hiding in plain sight? Presented at the 11th Nutrition and nurture in infancy and childhood conference (MAINN 2023): bio-cultural perspectives, 19-21 April 2023, Grange-over-Sands, UK.

• Presentation Conference Type: Presentation / Talk
• Conference Name: 11th Nutrition and nurture in infancy and childhood conference (MAINN 2023): bio-cultural perspectives
• Start Date: Apr 19, 2023
• End Date: Apr 21, 2023
• Deposit Date: May 29, 2023
• Publicly Available Date: May 29, 2023
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Keywords: Food poverty; Food insecurity; Lone parents; Solo-parenting; Young children and infant nutrition
• Public URL: https://rgu-repository.worktribe.com/output/1976765
• Additional Information: The abstract for this presentation will be published in a special issue of "Maternal and Child Nutrition".