Gender differences in the prevalence of household food insecurity: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Objective: The present review aimed to identify and synthesize literature on household food insecurity with respect to whether the respondent was male or female. Design: A systematic review of prevalence studies followed by a meta-analysis was conducted between 28 August 2014 and 19 October 2014 in seven electronic databases. The search was updated in April 2016. The included studies used experience-based measures to assess household food insecurity. Dichotomous measures of food insecurity were used. Pooled odds ratios of household food insecurity prevalence in women v. men were obtained through random-effect modelling. Quality assessment, publication bias diagnostics and subgroup analysis were also performed. Setting: Population-based studies (i.e. non-clinical populations). Subjects: Participants aged 18 years or over. Results: Out of the 5145 articles initially identified, forty-two studies with a total population of 233 153 were included. In general, results showed that the odds for household food insecurity was 40 % higher in studies where women were the respondent (95 % CI 127, 154; P < 0001). Besides, subgroup analysis revealed that female-headed households were 75% (95 % CI 49-96%) more likely to be food insecure than male-headed households. Conclusions: Our results confirm the existence of gender differences in reporting household food insecurity. Furthermore, they indicate that households headed by women constitute a segment of the population that is particularly vulnerable to food insecurity.