Food Insecurity in Households of People with Autism Spectrum Disorder during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Abstract
Objectives
To explore differences in food insecurity for individuals and families of people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) during the COVID-19 pandemic by individual, family, and neighborhood characteristics.
Methods
We surveyed a convenience sample of households of people with ASD. We calculated food insecurity using items from the US Census Bureau’s Household Pulse Survey..
Results
Over half of all respondents reported being food insecure (51.8%). Respondents who reported being food insecure were more likely to be minority, have a high school education or less, be on public insurance or uninsured, live in urban/rural communities, and say that their community is not supportive. The majority of respondents did not get free food or groceries (53.2%). Food insecure respondents who got free food was most likely to get them from schools (34.2%).
Conclusion
This is the first study of its kind to explore food security in households of people with ASD. The pandemic has exacerbated existing neighborhood disparities. The federal response to food insecurity caused by the pandemic needs to be further explored especially for preferred and medically necessary foods for people with ASD.
Related articles
Related articles are currently not available for this article.