Evidence map›Paper›PMID 37287481›Full record

ArticlePaediatrics & child health2023

Prevalence and characterization of food insecurity in a Canadian paediatric emergency department.

Elspeth MacBain, Mohamed Eltorki, Stacey Marjerrison, Alim Pardhan, Gita Wahi, Quang N Ngo

Open access · greenAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Paediatrics & child health, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed, 2 pooled it
1.7field-weighted citation impact, top 16% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 4 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Food-based interventions to mitigate household food insecurity in Canada: a systematic review.Health promotion and chronic disease prevention in Canada : research, policy and practice · 2025
    Pooled it
  2. Pooled it
  3. Article
  4. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.

Elspeth MacBainDepartment of Pediatrics, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.
Mohamed EltorkiDepartment of Pediatrics, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.
Stacey MarjerrisonDepartment of Pediatrics, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.
Alim PardhanDepartment of Pediatrics, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.
Gita WahiDepartment of Pediatrics, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5943-9702
Quang N NgoDepartment of Pediatrics, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.
McMaster Children's Hospital · CA

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Objectives: Food insecurity (FI) is associated with a number of adverse child health outcomes and increased emergency department (ED) use. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated the financial hardship faced by many families. We sought to determine the prevalence of FI among children with ED visits, compare this to pre-pandemic rates, and describe associated risk factors. Methods: From September to December 2021, families presenting to a Canadian paediatric ED were asked to complete a survey screening for FI along with health and demographic information. Results were compared to data collected in 2012. Multivariable logistic regression was used to measure associations with FI. Results: In 2021, 26% (n = 173/665) of families identified as food insecure compared to 22.7% in 2012 (n = 146/644) a difference of 3.3% (95% CI [-1.4%, 8.1%]). In multivariable analysis, greater number of children in the home (OR 1.19, 95% CI [1.01, 1.41]), financial strain from medical expenses (OR 5.31, 95% CI [3.45, 8.18]), and a lack of primary care access (OR 1.27, 95% CI [1.08, 1.51]) were independent predictors of FI. Less than half of families with FI reported use of food charity, most commonly food banks, while one-quarter received help from family or friends. Families experiencing FI expressed a preference for support through free or low-cost meals and financial assistance with medical expenses. Conclusion: More than one in four families attending a paediatric ED screened positive for FI. Future research is needed to examine the effect of support interventions for families assessed in medical care facilities including financial support for those with chronic medical conditions.

Indexed as

Emergency DepartmentFood insecurityPaediatricSocial determinants

Identifiers

PMID37287481
PMCPMC10243997
OpenAlexW4321210547

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.