Abstract

Background: Metabolic diseases such as cardiovascular diseases (with hypertension as the main risk factor) and diabetes are increasingly recognized as not just medical issues, but as complex conditions influenced by a multitude of factors.

Objectives: This study aimed to explore the association between food insecurity (FI) and hypertension and diabetes and how socioeconomic position of the household head influences this relationship.

Methods: Based on a cross-sectional study (N= 1,820 participants) carried out in Maputo City, between November 2021 and June 2022, FI was measured using a modified version of the US Department of Agriculture Module; metabolic diseases were assessed using self-reports of the actual diagnoses, and data were analyzed through multinomial regression and interaction terms.

Results: The findings revealed significant associations between household FI, socioeconomic position, hypertension and diabetes. Socioeconomic position had a clear influence on the association between FI and hypertension but showed a nuanced influence on diabetes. Specifically, the heads of households with a higher socioeconomic position showed a higher probability of having diabetes than their counterparts with a lower socioeconomic position.

Conclusions: The study underscores the complex interplay between household FI and socioeconomic position in influencing the risk of metabolic diseases. Addressing household FI and improving socioeconomic position of the household heads may be pivotal steps in mitigating the risk of hypertension and diabetes among vulnerable populations, emphasizing the importance of a holistic approach to health promotion and disease prevention.

Keywords: food insecurity, socioeconomic position, hypertension and diabetes, heads of households, Maputo City