Prevalence and risk factors of food insecurity during pregnancy: a multicenter survey in French Guiana

Abstract Background The post-COVID international situation, wars and food price inflation are hampering access to food for the most vulnerable households who have no safety net against unforeseen events. While pregnant women are particularly vulnerable to food shortages and nutritional imbalances, d...

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Main Authors: Célia Basurko, Elisabeth Lyonnais, Maëlys Proquot, Glwadys Forsans, Najeh Hcini, Nfassory Camara, Muriel Suzanne Galindo, Claire Gatti, Antoine Adenis, NPTM study team, Mathieu Nacher, Mathilde Savy
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-05-01
Series:BMC Public Health
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-23173-6
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author Célia Basurko
Elisabeth Lyonnais
Maëlys Proquot
Glwadys Forsans
Najeh Hcini
Nfassory Camara
Muriel Suzanne Galindo
Claire Gatti
Antoine Adenis
NPTM study team
Mathieu Nacher
Mathilde Savy
author_facet Célia Basurko
Elisabeth Lyonnais
Maëlys Proquot
Glwadys Forsans
Najeh Hcini
Nfassory Camara
Muriel Suzanne Galindo
Claire Gatti
Antoine Adenis
NPTM study team
Mathieu Nacher
Mathilde Savy
author_sort Célia Basurko
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background The post-COVID international situation, wars and food price inflation are hampering access to food for the most vulnerable households who have no safety net against unforeseen events. While pregnant women are particularly vulnerable to food shortages and nutritional imbalances, data on food insecurity during pregnancy and associated risk factors are scarce. Methods A 2023 multicenter, cross-sectional study was conducted among a representative sample of 730 women during the third trimester of pregnancy in French Guiana. Food insecurity (USDA Food Security Survey Module), diet quality indicators derived from a qualitative 24-h recall (Minimum Dietary Diversity for Women MDD-W, All-5 indicator, NCD risk foods), pre-conceptional nutritional status (body mass index – BMI) and gestational weight gain (GWG), and women’s self-esteem were collected. Data were weighted to ensure sample representativeness, and modified Poisson regression was used to identify risk factors for FI during pregnancy. Results Overall, 32.3% [95% CI: 28.8–35.9] of the women lived in a food-insecure household during pregnancy and only 45.6% [95% CI: 42.0–49.2] of the women had reached the MDD-W set at 5 food groups. More than 80% of the women had consumed sweetened beverages and 25.1% were obese before conception. According to the multivariate model, the factors positively associated with food insecurity included living in substandard housing, living alone with children, having low self-esteem and being born abroad (with or without a residence permit). On the other hand, having a stable and declared income and social support were protective factors against food insecurity after adjusting for the other variables. Conclusions This study highlights a frequently overlooked situation in French Guiana that is likely to affect the health of children at the very beginning of their lives. Peer-based programs or government financial assistance programs could help strengthen the ability of the poorest households with pregnant women to cope with food insecurity.
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spelling doaj-art-cb697540967a4a58a9c5dfe890ecfda12025-08-20T01:53:15ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582025-05-0125111410.1186/s12889-025-23173-6Prevalence and risk factors of food insecurity during pregnancy: a multicenter survey in French GuianaCélia Basurko0Elisabeth Lyonnais1Maëlys Proquot2Glwadys Forsans3Najeh Hcini4Nfassory Camara5Muriel Suzanne Galindo6Claire Gatti7Antoine Adenis8NPTM study teamMathieu Nacher9Mathilde Savy10CIC INSERM 1424, Centre Hospitalier de CayenneDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Centre Hospitalier de L’ Ouest GuyanaisCIC INSERM 1424, Centre Hospitalier de CayenneCIC INSERM 1424, Centre Hospitalier de CayenneAmazonian Population Health UA17Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Centre Hospitalier de CayenneCIC INSERM 1424, Centre Hospitalier de CayenneCIC INSERM 1424, Centre Hospitalier de CayenneCIC INSERM 1424, Centre Hospitalier de CayenneCIC INSERM 1424, Centre Hospitalier de CayenneUMR MoISA, Université de Montpellier, CIRAD, CIHEAM-IAMM, INRAE, Institut Agro Montpellier, IRDAbstract Background The post-COVID international situation, wars and food price inflation are hampering access to food for the most vulnerable households who have no safety net against unforeseen events. While pregnant women are particularly vulnerable to food shortages and nutritional imbalances, data on food insecurity during pregnancy and associated risk factors are scarce. Methods A 2023 multicenter, cross-sectional study was conducted among a representative sample of 730 women during the third trimester of pregnancy in French Guiana. Food insecurity (USDA Food Security Survey Module), diet quality indicators derived from a qualitative 24-h recall (Minimum Dietary Diversity for Women MDD-W, All-5 indicator, NCD risk foods), pre-conceptional nutritional status (body mass index – BMI) and gestational weight gain (GWG), and women’s self-esteem were collected. Data were weighted to ensure sample representativeness, and modified Poisson regression was used to identify risk factors for FI during pregnancy. Results Overall, 32.3% [95% CI: 28.8–35.9] of the women lived in a food-insecure household during pregnancy and only 45.6% [95% CI: 42.0–49.2] of the women had reached the MDD-W set at 5 food groups. More than 80% of the women had consumed sweetened beverages and 25.1% were obese before conception. According to the multivariate model, the factors positively associated with food insecurity included living in substandard housing, living alone with children, having low self-esteem and being born abroad (with or without a residence permit). On the other hand, having a stable and declared income and social support were protective factors against food insecurity after adjusting for the other variables. Conclusions This study highlights a frequently overlooked situation in French Guiana that is likely to affect the health of children at the very beginning of their lives. Peer-based programs or government financial assistance programs could help strengthen the ability of the poorest households with pregnant women to cope with food insecurity.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-23173-6Food insecurityPregnancyFrench GuianaDietary diversityObesity
spellingShingle Célia Basurko
Elisabeth Lyonnais
Maëlys Proquot
Glwadys Forsans
Najeh Hcini
Nfassory Camara
Muriel Suzanne Galindo
Claire Gatti
Antoine Adenis
NPTM study team
Mathieu Nacher
Mathilde Savy
Prevalence and risk factors of food insecurity during pregnancy: a multicenter survey in French Guiana
BMC Public Health
Food insecurity
Pregnancy
French Guiana
Dietary diversity
Obesity
title Prevalence and risk factors of food insecurity during pregnancy: a multicenter survey in French Guiana
title_full Prevalence and risk factors of food insecurity during pregnancy: a multicenter survey in French Guiana
title_fullStr Prevalence and risk factors of food insecurity during pregnancy: a multicenter survey in French Guiana
title_full_unstemmed Prevalence and risk factors of food insecurity during pregnancy: a multicenter survey in French Guiana
title_short Prevalence and risk factors of food insecurity during pregnancy: a multicenter survey in French Guiana
title_sort prevalence and risk factors of food insecurity during pregnancy a multicenter survey in french guiana
topic Food insecurity
Pregnancy
French Guiana
Dietary diversity
Obesity
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-23173-6
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