Document Type

Plan B - Open Access

Award Date

2025

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Health and Nutritional Sciences

First Advisor

Gemma Bastian

Abstract

Background
Almost 13% of U.S. families experienced food insecurity in 2022; i.e., an inability to acquire enough food to meet household members’ needs. Many factors can influence food security status, such as environmental conditions, social factors, and financial costs. Families with children who have disabilities may be at higher risk for food insecurity due to additional financial stressors related to these children’s care.
Purpose
The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of food insecurity among South Dakota families who have children with disabilities. We hypothesized that South Dakota families with children with disabilities are at an increased risk of being food insecure due to the additional cost associated with medical care for their children.
Methods
An online survey was distributed to parents of children with disabilities; participants were eligible if they were ≥18y, lived in South Dakota, and their child(ren) with disabilities were < 18y. Participants were recruited into the study via email solicitation by the researchers in partnership with South Dakota Parent Connection.
Results
Fifty-seven participants were included in the final analysis (84% female, 93% White, mean age = 40.2). Strikingly, 60% of the families reported experiencing food insecurity over the past year. Almost half the families surveyed participated in at least 1 food assistance program, like SNAP or WIC. Seventy percent of families received Medicaid for their children with disabilities; 33% received Family Support 360. Sixty-eight percent of families reported paying out-of-pocket medical costs in the past year, with 35% paying ≥$1,000. Of those paying out-of-pocket costs, two-thirds deemed these costs sometimes or never reasonable, and 72% reported having problems paying for their children’s medical care. In the past year, 32% of families reported a caretaker leaving a job, and 49% reported cutting work hours due to their child(ren)’s health conditions. Forty-four percent avoided changing their job to maintain health insurance for their child(ren). Future regression analyses will explore which factors are most associated with experiencing food insecurity among this population.

Publisher

South Dakota State University

Rights

Copyright @ the Author

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