Actions to support local charitable organizations in countering the spread of food insecurity

Abstract Background According to the Italian Statistic Institute data, in Italy between 2007 - 2020 individual absolute poverty (AP) grew from 4.1 to 9.4%. In 2020 13.5% of minors lived in AP, furthermore in 2017 22.3% of Italians lived in conditions of food poverty or food insecurity (FI), between 2018 - 2019 1 in 7 minors lived in conditions of FI. The scientific literature underlines how inadequate food access is one of the risk factors for the onset of chronic non-communicable diseases. The aims of the project were to evaluate in the 3 main local charitable organizations (LCOs) the qualitative - quantitative profile of the food basket and the content of protective components present in fruits and vegetables (FV) available for socially disadvantaged communities (SDCs); determine the main nutritional critical points (NCPs); and identify possible corrective actions (CAs). Methods The average composition of the food baskets available in 2021 for 1600 users by the 3 LCOs was compared with national nutritional recommendations. In February 2022, 23 samples of FV were collected from the LCOs for chemical analyses by the University of Trieste (UT). The outcomes were compared with the food composition database of the UT. Results The food baskets at the LCOs were characterized by: daily average availability of 50 to 145 g of FV (8 to 22% of the recommended requirement); weekly average availability from 26 to 200g of cheeses, from 0 to 132g of meat. The quantitative profile of the protective molecules present in FV samples was reduced by 11 to 40 % compared to the UT database. The main NCPs were lack of nutrition guidelines on targeted food programmes and of monitor systems to evaluate the food basket balance for SDCs. CAs have been planned to integrate food safety and food security in public health programs to support LCOs. Conclusions The results of the project can significantly support LCOs towards integrated actions in the food and nutritional policies at local and regional level. Key messages The rapid spread of food insecurity among the population, especially in families with minors, requires new tools to plan rapid and effective actions of food and nutrition policies. The analysis of nutritional critical points in the flux of donating food to socially disadvantaged communities is crucial for identifying corrective actions and to support charitable organizations.


Background:
The relationships between social factors and dietary risk behaviour in older adults have not yet been thoroughly investigated.In this analysis, we aimed to develop a brief index of dietary risk behaviour and examine its associations with sociodemographic, socioeconomic, psychosocial, and behavioural factors.

Methods:
A community-based postal survey was conducted to collect cross-sectional data from German adults aged 65 and older (n = 1687; 33% response proportion; 52% female).Using principal component analysis, we developed a 3-item dietary risk behaviour index (DRB), including the food groups vegetables/fruit, whole grains, and dairy products.Dietary risk behaviour was defined as food group consumption frequencies below national dietary recommendations.Multiple linear regression was used to analyse associations between dietary risk behaviour and social factors.

Results:
Physical activity, female gender, education level, and social support were negatively associated with dietary risk behaviour, while alcohol consumption and smoking were positively associated (Adj.R2 = 0.16, p < 0.001).The brief DRB based on vegetables/fruit, whole grains, and dairy products has

Background:
According to the Italian Statistic Institute data, in Italy between 2007 -2020 individual absolute poverty (AP) grew from 4.1 to 9.4%.In 2020 13.5% of minors lived in AP, furthermore in 2017 22.3% of Italians lived in conditions of food poverty or food insecurity (FI), between 2018 -2019 1 in 7 minors lived in conditions of FI.The scientific literature underlines how inadequate food access is one of the risk factors for the onset of chronic non-communicable diseases.The aims of the project were to evaluate in the 3 main local charitable organizations (LCOs) the qualitative -quantitative profile of the food basket and the content of protective components present in fruits and vegetables (FV) available for socially disadvantaged communities (SDCs); determine the main nutritional critical points (NCPs); and identify possible corrective actions (CAs).

Methods:
The average composition of the food baskets available in 2021 for 1600 users by the 3 LCOs was compared with national nutritional recommendations.In February 2022, 23 samples of FV were collected from the LCOs for chemical analyses by the University of Trieste (UT).The outcomes were compared with the food composition database of the UT.

Results:
The food baskets at the LCOs were characterized by: daily average availability of 50 to 145 g of FV (8 to 22% of the recommended requirement); weekly average availability from 26 to 200g of cheeses, from 0 to 132g of meat.The quantitative profile of the protective molecules present in FV samples was reduced by 11 to 40 % compared to the UT database.The main NCPs were lack of nutrition guidelines on targeted food programmes and of monitor systems to evaluate the food basket balance for SDCs.CAs have been planned to integrate food safety and food security in public health programs to support LCOs.

Conclusions:
The results of the project can significantly support LCOs towards integrated actions in the food and nutritional policies at local and regional level.

Background:
The hospital discharge process of older adults in need of both medical and social care post hospitalisation requires extensive care coordination.Cooperation and continuity between involved care providers are essential, however, existing care systems including the Nordic care systems, are poorly designed to provide health and social care to patients with complex health and social care needs which increases the risk of certain groups not receiving optimal care.Aim and methods: This study aims to examine and compare what roles, responsibility and actions nurses take in the hospital discharge process of older adults with complex care needs in three Nordic cities: Copenhagen (Denmark), Stockholm (Sweden) and Tampere (Finland).A vignette study consisting of three fictive cases was conducted face-to-face with nurses in Copenhagen (n = 11), Stockholm (n = 16) and Tampere (n = 8).Participants were identified through the researchers' networks and snowball sampling.The vignettes represent older patients with age-related medical conditions of which one also has cognitive loss and one looks after their partner with dementia.The cases further include differences in the home help received by their children, physical obstacles in their homes and unwillingness of becoming a burden to the system.A thematic approach is used for the data analysis.

Results and conclusions:
Preliminary results suggest that the informants' roles and engagement in the coordination and collaboration may differ both within and between the systems studied, and that they take responsibility beyond their job roles particularly if the patient has no close relatives.The study is of public health importance as it identifies gaps in how the care is organised in the three welfare states targeted.It also sheds light on the complexities of providing universal care in ageing societies where a growing proportion of older adults have both medical