Food security status, Intelligence Quotients and associated factors in village of Qehi, Esfahan

Background: Food insecurity is a global problem with considerable health impacts. It is especially important in children as it can affect their learning ability. The present study was designed to determine household food insecurity status, intelligence quotients (IQ) and their associations with some relevant factors in village of Qehi, Esfahan. Methods: This study was conducted on all of the children under the age of seven years in village of Qehi in 2016. The nutritional status of participants was determined by measuring their heights and weights. General information, FFQ and USDA questionnaires were used to collect data about households socio-economic and food security status during interviews with mothers. Good enough Draw-APerson test was used to assess the participants’ IQ. Results: The prevalence of household food insecurity was 50%. There were significant associations between food insecurity and children sex and mother’s job status. Food insecurity was positively associated with number of household members (p 0.05) and negatively associated with children’s IQ, parental educational level, and household economic status. In addition, students living in food-insecure households less frequently consumed meat, fruits and vegetables and had less number of meals and snacks intake (p 0.05). Children’s IQ was only associated with sex. Conclusion: Food insecurity was prevalent among households in the studied population and it was associated inversely with children’s IQ. Based on these associations, food assistance programs and education is necessary in the studied population.