The Spatial Distribution and Quantification of Food Insecurity in the North Central Health District of Idaho

This study examines the complexity of community food insecurity in a rural region of the United States. In this country, food insecurity is more about improper distribution than about scarcity. Quantifying why and where food distribution is not equitable or adequate depends on the context. We analyzed multiple indicators of food security at the ZIP code level to create a food insecurity index. With the index we used geographic information systems (GIS) technology to test for spatial autocorrelation. This technique shows spatial patterns of clustering or dispersal of food insecurity. The results conclude significant clustering of food insecurity and security in the study region.