School absenteeism is linked to household food insecurity in school catchment areas in Southern Nevada. Issue 15 (15th October 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Coughenour, Courtney; Conway Kleven, Brooke; Gakh, Maxim; Stephen, Haroon; Chien, Lung-Chang; Labus, Brian; Whaley, Regis
• Is Part Of: Public health nutrition. Volume 24:Issue 15(2021)
• Page Start: 5074
• Page End: 5080
• Publication Date: 2021-10-15
• Subjects: Food insecurity -- Food security -- School absenteeism -- School attendance; Nutrition -- Periodicals; Nutrition policy -- Periodicals; Public health -- Periodicals; 613.2
• DOI: 10.1017/S136898002100063X
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1368-9800

Abstract

Abstract: Objectives: Food security and school attendance are both important for health, well-being and academic performance of children and adolescents. However, their intersection remains underexamined, especially in the USA. The current study considered the association between elementary school-level absenteeism and household food insecurity. Design: The current study linked school-level absenteeism and household food insecurity rates using geographic information system mapping and applied the tobit regression model to examine their association. Setting: The Clark County, Nevada, public school district – the fifth largest in the USA and in a state with disproportionate food insecurity and chronic school absenteeism rates. Participants: Data consisted of school-level absenteeism rates from 185 elementary schools and census tract-level household food insecurity rates. Results: Average daily attendance rates were lower for schools with catchment areas that had higher average household food insecurity (FI), decreasing by −0·0232 % per 1 % increase in FI rate ( P -value = 0·022). They were also significantly associated with most absenteeism risk factors. Average daily attendance rate was negatively associated with Free and Reduced Lunch eligibility percentage (−0·010 per 1 % increase in FI, P -value < 0·001) and Individualized Education Program participation percentage (−0·039 % per 1 % increase in FI, P -value = 0·033), but positively associated with parent–teacher conference participation rate (0·006 % per 1 % increase in FI, P -value = 0·025) and white student percentage (0·011 % per 1 % increase in FI, P -value = 0·022). Conclusions: The current study suggests a link between household food insecurity and elementary school-level absenteeism. Understanding this link is important for policy and practice because schools are frequent settings for food insecurity mitigation interventions.