Household food insecurity and symptoms of neurologic disorder in Ethiopia: An observational analysis

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Abdulrahman M. El-Sayed, Columbia University; Craig Hadley, Emory University; Fasil Tessema, Jimma University; Ayelew Tegegn, Jimma University; John A. Cowan, Jr., University of Michigan; Sandro Galea, Columbia University
• Language: English
• Date: 2010-12-31
• Publisher: BioMed Central
• Publication Version: Final Published Version
• Copyright Statement: © 2010 El-Sayed et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.
• License: Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic
• Final Published Version (URL): http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2458/10/802
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: BMC Public Health
• ISSN: 1471-2458
• Volume: 10
• Issue: 802
• Start Page: 1
• End Page: 10
• Grant/Funding Information: This project was funded by NIH grants GM07863, DA 017642, DA 022720, MH082729 and MH 078152.
• Research Categories: Health Sciences, Public Health; Biology, Neuroscience; Health Sciences, Epidemiology

Abstract

Background Food insecurity (FI) has been shown to be associated with poor health both in developing and developed countries. Little is known about the relation between FI and neurological disorder. We assessed the relation between FI and risk for neurologic symptoms in southwest Ethiopia. Methods Data about food security, gender, age, household assets, and self-reported neurologic symptoms were collected from a representative, community-based sample of adults (N = 900) in Jimma Zone, Ethiopia. We calculated univariate statistics and used bivariate chi-square tests and multivariate logistic regression models to assess the relation between FI and risk of neurologic symptoms including seizures, extremity weakness, extremity numbness, tremors/ataxia, aphasia, carpal tunnel syndrome, vision dysfunction, and spinal pain. Results In separate multivariate models by outcome and gender, adjusting for age and household socioeconomic status, severe FI was associated with higher odds of seizures, movement abnormalities, carpal tunnel, vision dysfunction, spinal pain, and comorbid disorders among women. Severe FI was associated with higher odds of seizures, extremity numbness, movement abnormalities, difficulty speaking, carpal tunnel, vision dysfunction, and comorbid disorders among men. Conclusion We found that FI was associated with symptoms of neurologic disorder. Given the cross-sectional nature of our study, the directionality of these associations is unclear. Future research should assess causal mechanisms relating FI to neurologic symptoms in sub-Saharan Africa.