Food insufficiency, depression, and the modifying role of social support: Evidence from a population-based, prospective cohort of pregnant women in peri-urban South Africa.

ABSTRACT:

Rationale

Food insecurity has emerged as an important, and potentially modifiable, risk factor for depression. Few studies have brought longitudinal data to bear on investigating this association in sub-Saharan Africa.

Objective

To estimate the association between food insufficiency and depression symptom severity, and to determine the extent to which any observed associations were modified by social support.

Methods and results

We conducted a secondary analysis of population-based, longitudinal data collected from 1238 pregnant women during a three-year cluster-randomized trial of a home visiting intervention in Cape Town, South Africa. Surveys were conducted at baseline, 6 months, 18 months, and 36 months (85% retention). A validated, single-item food insufficiency

SUBMITTER: Tsai AC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4766046 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature