Abstract
Objective
This study assessed the affordability of a basic nutritious diet for selected household types relying on Income Assistance (IA) by comparing potential incomes to the costs of the National Nutritious Food Basket (NNFB) and other essential expenditures in Nova Scotia from 2002 to 201 0, and examined the adequacy of IA allowances during this time period.
Method
The cost of the NNFB was surveyed across a random sample of grocery stores in NS during five time periods: 2002, 2004/05, 2007, 2008 and 2010, and was factored into affordability scenarios for three household types relying on IA: a family of four, a lone mother with three children, and a lone male. Essential monthly expenses were deducted from total net income to determine if adequate funds remained for the NNFB. Results: For each time period examined, the findings demonstrated that all household types faced a significant monthly deficit if they purchased a basic nutritious diet. In each household scenario, the potential monthly deficits increased from 2002 to 2010, ranging from $112 in 2002 for a lone mother with three children to $523 in 2010 for a lone male.
Conclusion
Despite increases in allowances, these findings suggest that the risk of food insecurity has increased for IA-dependent households in NS. To address this public health challenge, public health practitioners must advocate for integrated, progressive and sustainable social welfare policies that ensure that individuals and families relying on IA have adequate income and other supports to meet their basic needs, including access to a healthy diet.
Key words: Nutrition policy; income assistance; food security; community-based participatory research; poverty; welfare; social assistance, food costing
Résumé
Objectif
Évaluer l’abordabilité d’un régime alimentaire nutritif de base pour certains types de ménages qui comptent sur l’aide au revenu (AR) en comparant le revenu potentiel aux coûts du Panier de provisions nutritif (PPN) et d’autres dépenses essentielles entre 2002 et 2010, et examiner si les prestations d’AR étaient suffisantes durant cette période.
Méthode
Nous avons calculé le coût du PPN dans un échantillon aléatoire d’épiceries en Nouvelle-Écosse durant cinq périodes de temps (2002, 2004–2005, 2007, 2008 et 2010), ce qui nous a permis de construire des scénarios d’abordabilité pour trois types de ménages comptant sur l’AR: une famille de quatre personnes, une mère de famille monoparentale avec trois enfants, et un homme seul. Les dépenses mensuelles essentielles ont été déduites du revenu net total pour déterminer s’il restait des fonds suffisants pour acheter le PPN.
Résultats
Pour chaque période examinée, nos constatations montrent que tous les types de ménages accusent un déficit mensuel important s’ils achètent les produits d’un régime alimentaire nutritif de base. Dans chaque scénario, le déficit mensuel potentiel a augmenté entre 2002 et 2010, allant de 11 2 $ en 2002 pour une mère de famille monoparentale avec trois enfants à 523 $ en 2010 pour un homme seul.
Conclusion
Malgré les hausses des prestations, ces résultats montrent que le risque d’insécurité alimentaire s’est accru pour les ménages néoécossais comptant sur l’AR. Pour aborder ce problème de santé publique, les praticiens de la santé publique doivent promulguer des politiques d’aide sociale intégrées, progressistes et durables qui garantissent que les particuliers et les familles comptant sur l’AR disposent d’un revenu suffisant et d’autres mesures de soutien pour satisfaire leurs besoins fondamentaux, dont l’accès à une alimentation saine.
Mots clés: politique nutritionnelle; aide au revenu; sécurité alimentaire; recherche participative communautaire; pauvreté; aide sociale; assistance sociale, calcul des coûts des aliments
References
- 1.Health Canada. Canadian Community Health Survey, Cycle 2.2, Nutrition (2004): Income related household food security in Canada. Ottawa, ON: Office of Nutrition Policy and Promotion, Health Products and Food Branch; 2007. [Google Scholar]
- 2.Williams PL, McIntyre L, Glanville NT. Milk insecurity: Accounts of a food insecurity phenomenon in Canada and its relation to public policy. J Hunger Environ Nut. 2010;5(2):142–57. doi: 10.1080/19320248.2010.489369. [DOI] [Google Scholar]
- 3.Health Canada. Household food insecurity in Canada in 2007–2008: Key statistics and graphics. 2011. [Google Scholar]
- 4.Vozoris NT, Tarasuk VS. Household food insufficiency is associated with poorer health. J Nutr. 2003;133:120–26. doi: 10.1093/jn/133.1.120. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 5.Kirkpatrick S, Mclntyre L, Potestio LM. Child hunger and long-term adverse consequences for health. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2010;164(8):754–62. doi: 10.1001/archpediatrics.2010.117. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 6.Kerstetter S, Goldberg M. A review of policy options for increasing food security and income security in British Columbia: A discussion paper. British Columbia: Population Health Surveillance & Disease Control Planning (BC), September; 2007. [Google Scholar]
- 7.National Council on Welfare. Welfare incomes: Key patterns and trends. 2011. [Google Scholar]
- 8.Mount Saint Vincent UniversityNova Scotia Food Security Network. Can Nova Scotians afford to eat healthy? 2011. [Google Scholar]
- 9.Cost of Eating in BC Committee. The cost of eating in BC 2009: Low income British Columbians can’t afford healthy food. 2009. [Google Scholar]
- 10.Weaver RD, Habibov N, Fan L. Devolution and the poverty reduction effectiveness of Canada’s provincial social welfare programs: Results from a time-series investigation of a Canadian national survey. J Policy Practice. 2010;9(2):80–95. doi: 10.1080/15588741003602155. [DOI] [Google Scholar]
- 11.Vozoris N, Davis B, Tarasuk V. The affordability of a nutritious diet for households on welfare in Toronto. Can J Public Health. 2002;93(1):36–40. doi: 10.1007/BF03404415. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 12.Green RJ, Williams PL, Johnson CS, Blum I. Can Canadian seniors on public pensions afford a nutritious diet? Can J Aging. 2008;27(1):69–79. doi: 10.3138/cja.27.1.69. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 13.Health Canada, Office of Nutrition PolicyPromotion. Summary data tables on household food insecurity in Canada in 2007–2008. Ottawa, ON: Government of Canada; 2010. [Google Scholar]
- 14.Food Banks Canada. Hunger count 2010. Toronto, ON: Food Banks Canada; 2010. [Google Scholar]
- 15.Nathoo T, Shoveller J. Do healthy food baskets assess food security? Chronic Dis Can. 2003;24(2/3):65–69. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 16.Health Canada. National nutritious food basket. 2009. [Google Scholar]
- 17.Williams PL, Amero M, Anderson B, Gillis D, Green-LaPierre R, Johnson C, et al. A participatory model for food costing in Nova Scotia: Sustainable community action for food security. Can J Diet Pract Res In press. [DOI] [PubMed]
- 18.Lawn J. National nutritious food basket. Ottawa: Health Canada; 1998. [Google Scholar]
- 19.Williams PL, MacAulay RB, Anderson BJ, Barro K, Gillis D, Johnson CP, et al. I would have never thought that I would be in such a predicament: Voices from women experiencing food insecurity in Nova Scotia, Canada. J Hunger Environ Nutr Submitted.
- 20.McIntyre L. Policy Options. 2003. Food security: More than a determinant of health; pp. 46–51. [Google Scholar]
- 21.Government of Nova Scotia. Preventing poverty. Promoting prosperity: Nova Scotia’s poverty reduction strategy. Halifax, NS: Province of Nova Scotia; 2009. [Google Scholar]
- 22.Government of Nova Scotia, Office of Health Promotion. Healthy Eating Nova Scotia. 2005. [Google Scholar]
- 23.Kirkpatrick SI, Tarasuk V. Housing circumstances are associated with household food access among low-income urban families. J Urban Health. 2011;88(2):284–96. doi: 10.1007/s11524-010-9535-4. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 24.Frank DA, Neault NB, Skalicky A, Cook JT, Wilson JD, Levenson S, et al. Heat or eat: The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program and nutritional and health risks among children less than 3 years of age. Pediatrics. 2006;118(5):1293–302. doi: 10.1542/peds.2005-2943. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 25.Wilkinson R, Pickett K. The Spirit Level: Why Equality Is Better for Everyone. London, UK: Penguin Books; 2010. [Google Scholar]
- 26.MacEwen A, Saulnier C. The Cost of Poverty in NovaScotia. Halifax: Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives; 2010. [Google Scholar]
- 27.Canadian MortgageHousing Corporation. Rental market report, Nova Scotia Highlights. 2010. [Google Scholar]
- 28.Nova Scotia Power. Energy calculator: Calculate your home energy costs. 2011. [Google Scholar]
- 29.Nova Scotia Community Services. Early Childhood Development Services Child Care Subsidy Program: Terms and Conditions. Halifax: Government of Nova Scotia; 2010. [Google Scholar]
- 30.Goldberg M, Long A. Falling behind: A comparison of living costs and income assistance rates (BC benefits) in British Columbia. Vancouver, BC: Social Planning and Research Council of BC; 2001. [Google Scholar]