Iranian Journal of

Background & Objectives: Food insecurity has been a global concern. The purpose of the present study was to examine the relationship between household food insecurity and depression in mothers with school children in Ray city.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey of 430 mothers of school children was conducted in 2010 in Ray city. We employed USDA food security questionnaire. The prevalence of depression in mothers was assessed by Beck Depression Inventory (DBI).
Results: Household food insecurity was identified approximately in fifty percent of participants and frequency of depression was 51.4% in mothers. Depression in ‘food secure' group was 34.6%, and in ‘food insecure with hunger' group was 77.8%. There was a positive relationship between depression and food insecurity in mothers having primary school children living in Ray.
Conclusion: The findings of this study revealed that level of food insecurity among mothers seems high. This study highlights the need to integrate programs addressing food insecurity and poor mental health for mothers.

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