Food insecurity prevalence among college students at the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa

Abstract

Objectives: To assess the prevalence and identify possible predictors of food insecurity among college students at the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa.Design: Cross-sectional survey, including the US Department of Agriculture’s Household Food Security Survey Module, demographic and spending variables.Setting: University of Hawai’i at Mānoa, Honolulu, Hawai’i (USA).Subjects: Four hundred and forty-one non-freshmen students from thirty-one randomly selected classes.Results: Twenty-one per cent of students surveyed were food-insecure, while 24 % were at risk of food insecurity. Students at higher risk of food insecurity included those who reported living on campus and those living off-campus with room mates. Those identifying themselves as Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders, Filipinos and mixed were also at increased risk of food insecurity.Conclusions: Food insecurity is a significant problem among college students at the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa. Food availability and accessibility should be increased for these students through the establishment of on-campus food banks and student gardens. Future studies should assess the prevalence of food insecurity in other college campuses nationwide.