Black–white racial disparities in household food insecurity from 2005 to 2014, Canada
Open accessPublished version of a preprint
Abstract
Objectives To understand the differential vulnerability to household food insecurity of the Black population as compared with white counterparts in Canada.Methods Using data for households with Black and white respondents in pooled Canadian Community Health Survey cycles from 2005 to 2014, the 18-question Household Food Security Survey Module was analyzed (N = 491,400). Bivariate and multivariate logistic and multinomial regression models were run using respondent's race, immigration status, and six well-established predictors of household food insecurity in the general population. Additional multivariable logistic regression models were run, with race interacted with each predictor individually to yield predicted probabilities.Results The weighted prevalence of household food insecurity was 10.0% for white respondents and 28.4% for Black respondents. The odds of Black households being food-insecure as compared with white households fell from 3.56 (95% CI: 3.30-3.85) to 1.88 (95% CI: 1.70-2.08) with adjustment for household socio-demographic characteristics. In contrast with white households, there was relative homogeneity of risk of food insecurity among Black subgroups defined by immigration status, household composition, education, and province of residence. Homeownership was associated with lower probabilities of food insecurity for Black and white households, but the probability among Black owners was similar to that for white renters (14.7% vs. 14.3%). Black households had significantly higher predicted probabilities of food insecurity than their white counterparts across all main sources of household income except child benefits and social assistance.Conclusion Being racialized as Black appears to be an overriding factor shaping vulnerability to food insecurity for the Black population in Canada. Future research and public policy on food insecurity should seriously consider the role of racism at the systemic and institutional levels.
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Risk of food insecurity is greatest among lone-parent families, social assistance recipients, individuals who identify as Indigenous or Black, and people who live in Nunavut.
“with risk greatest among lone-parent families, social assistance recipients, individuals who identify as Indigenous or Black, and people who live in Nunavut [2, 7].”
From Prevalence and sociodemographic correlates of food insecurity among post-secondary students and non-students of similar age in Canada (2023) · cites this paper as [7]
The Introduction identifies social assistance and Aboriginal status as correlates of high food-insecurity vulnerability. The Discussion reports elevated risk for female lone-parent households and Black households. The paper does not identify Nunavut residents as a highest-risk group; it groups territories with other provinces rather than reporting a Nunavut-specific result. Page numbers are not available in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.88)
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References 28 · Cited by 50
Research works printed but not linked: 2
- [9]9. Galabuzi, G. E. (2006). Canada's economic apartheid: The social exclu- sion of racialized groups in the new century. Canadian Scholars' Press.
- [13]13. Krahn, H. J., & Lowe, G. S. (2002). Work Industry and Canadian Society (4th ed.). Nelson.
- Authors
- Dhunna, S., & Tarasuk, V.
- Affiliations
- University of Toronto (CA)
- Corresponding author
- Dhunna, Simran
- Venue
- Canadian Journal of Public Health
- Published
- 2021-06-15
- Volume
- 112
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 888-902
- ISSN
- 0008-4263 (ISSN-L)
- 1920-7476
- PMC
- PMC8204605
- OpenAlex
- W3172815747
- Cited by
- 50
- References
- 28
- Citations by year
- 2026: 7 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 13 · 2023: 14 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 1
- FWCI
- 9.55
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Canadian Journal of Public Health (publishedVersion)
- Research Square (acceptedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Canadian Institutes of Health Research (153260_1)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Food Security and Health in Diverse Populations
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Racial and Ethnic Identity Research
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › General Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Food Security and Socioeconomic Dynamics
- Keywords
- household food insecurity, racial disparities, Black Canadians, black-white disparities, immigration status, homeownership, household income, family allowances, social assistance, racism, systemic racism
- MeSH terms
- Food Insecurity, Adolescent, Adult, Canada, Child, Family Characteristics, Female, Health Surveys, Humans, Male, Socioeconomic Factors, Black People, White People, Health Status Disparities
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