Date of Publication
2025
Abstract
Objective: To explore the gap in knowledge around the association between inadequate housing and food on chronic disease rates.
Methods: The Vermont Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System survey (2022) was used to examine the impact of food insecurity on chronic disease, specifically COPD, asthma, arthritis, and CVD (weighted population of 444,444). Multivariate logistic regression analysis, stratified by housing insecurity, was performed.
Results: Food insecurity was more prevalent among housing-insecure individuals compared to housing-secure individuals (35.6% vs. 5.1%, p<0.001). Housing and food insecurity were associated with chronic disease (AOR= 1.52, AOR=1.33). Food insecurity was associated with higher odds of arthritis, COPD, and CVD, regardless of stratification. COPD had the strongest association with food insecurity across both the housing secure and housing insecure groups (AOR=3.1; 95% CI=2.90, 3.40; AOR=3.8; 95% CI=3.62, 3.95).
Conclusions: Our results contribute to current literature and previous work by demonstrating just how detrimental housing and food insecurity can be to human health.
Policy Implications: These results must serve as a call to action for current public health professionals and inform better policies and interventions to reach housing- and food-insecure populations.
Document Type
Dissertation/Thesis
Recommended Citation
Petitti, Rose; Loflin, Jessica; Caffry, Emma; Hone, Makayla; Fuller, Tara; and Gaffin, Sadie, "Community Analysis: Associations Between Food Insecurity and Chronic Disease Among the Housing Insecure Population in Vermont" (2025). Master of Public Health Culminating Projects. 47.
https://scholarworks.uvm.edu/mphcp/47