P-64 High Prevalence of Food Insecurity and Mental Health Symptoms among Individuals with Diabetes in Jamacia
Author(s):
A Farooq , M Kashef , S Meda , Z Longworth , M Monroy-Valle , M Shafiee, C Henry, J White , K Quimby , N Bennet , TS Ferguson, H Vatanparast
Year of Presentation:
2025
Objective: This study was undertaken to assess the KAP
about dietary sodium intake among students of dietetics and
nutrition at the University of Technology, Jamaica.
Methods: A cross-sectional study ongoing at the University Hospital of West Indies Diabetes Clinic. An interim analysis was conducted on 28 adults aged 18 or older diagnosed with T2D. Demographic and socioeconomic data were gathered using questions adapted from the Community Health and Diabetes Assessment Survey. Household food security was assessed with the Household Food Security Survey Module, and mental health symptoms including anxiety, depression, and stress were measured using the DASS-21 scale. Data was cleaned and analyzed using SPSS applied to key variables. Ethical approval was obtained from the University of the West Indies and the University of Saskatchewan.
Results: Twenty-three females and five males, between ages 45-65, were enrolled. The interim analyses revealed a high prevalence of moderate/severe food insecurity (64.3%) among participants and 25% reported mild to severe symptoms of depression. The prevalence of anxiety and stress symptoms could not be reported due to a homogenous sample, though most participants showed mild to severe anxiety symptoms. Crosstabulations were conducted to explore potential associations with depression and food security, but no significant links were found.
Conclusion: Preliminary findings suggest that individuals with T2D in Jamaica exhibit a high prevalence of food insecurity and mental health symptoms such as anxiety and depression. Results highlight the potential intersection between food insecurity and mental health in the management of T2D.