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Community and Public Health Nutrition (Poster Session)

(P20-062-24) The Impact of COVID-19 Lockdown on Food Security Status Among Residents of Western Sydney, Australia: A Mixed Method Approach

Monday, July 1, 2024
12:45 PM – 1:45 PM CT
Location: Poster Board 554
Disclosure(s):
Alexandria N. Mekanna, PhD Candidate: No relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.


Objectives: Little is known on the effects of COVID-19 lockdown in years 2022-2023 on food security status in Australian adults. The objective was to examine the impacts of COVID-19 lockdown on food security status of Western Sydney residents.

Methods: A total of 548 adult participants were recruited using convenience sampling. The majority were surveyed (n=523) using the validated six-item USDA Household Food Security Survey Module and 54 (n=29 from survey) participated in Focus Group Discussion (FGD). The FGD focused on the 4 pillars of food security (availability, access, utilization and stability), both during and post-lockdown. Other reasons for or causes of food security status change (during and after lockdown) were discussed.

Results: The mean age of participants was 25.1± 9.7 years with 63% women equally distributed among Australian vs. overseas born participants. Approximately 7% surveyed reported a worse food security status post compared with pre-lockdown. The rest recounted no impacts on food security status post vs pre-lockdown. Approximately 6% of the participants reported a much better food security status after lockdown when compared to during lockdown, 1% much worse and no changes in 93% of participants. Focus group participants noted impacts of lockdown on food security status. Typical themes emerged included decreased availability of food products and increased prices.

Conclusions: Impacts of lockdown on food security status was reported in a minority of participants living in Western Sydney. Future studies are needed to verify the longer-term effects of lockdown on food security. To prepare for future challenges to food access and availability in Australia due to natural disasters, pandemics or other disruptions, preventative policies or guidance for our food and nutrition system and beyond are worth consideration to ensure food security as a basic human right.

Funding Sources: The study was funded by the Research Training Program scholarship.