Food Insecurity and Chronic Diseases: Diabetes Hypertension Among Older Adults in South Africa

Abstract Food security is a situation where all people, at all times, have physical, social and economic access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food to meet their dietary needs and food preferences for a healthy and active life. In 2021, a significant number of the South African households either had food inadequacy or severe food inadequacy challenges. More than half of South African population is at risk of hunger and limited access to nutritious food. Food insecurity is often associated with negative health outcomes, including chronic diseases such as diabetes and hypertension. A secondary data obtained from the cross sectional 2021 South African General Household Survey (GHS) was analyzed to determine the association between food insecurity (independent variable) and diabetes and hypertension (dependent variables). The data was analysed in three phases namely univariate, bivariate, and multivariate. Stratified random sampling was employed in the primary study whereas the sample frame of this study consisted of 3,324 primary sampling units (PSUs) with a total of 33,000 dwelling units/ enumeration areas. The results of this study show that the odds of having hypertension or diabetes were considerably higher among older adults who had inadequate access to food (odds ratio (OR) 1.14, p < 0.05) compared to those who had adequate access to food. More targeted food security programs could lower the odds of diabetes and hypertension amongst older adults. The promotion and provision of free health screening services at various government health facilities could assist with the early detection of hypertension and diabetes.