Martin Gulliford|Cheryl Nunes|Brian Rocke
The 18 Household Food Security Survey items provide valid food security classifications for adults and children in the Caribbean
King's College London|Ministry of Health|Ministry of Health
tested properties 18 household food security survey hfss items validity resulting food security classifications englishspeaking middleincome countrysurvey primary school children trinidad tobago parents completed hfss responses analysed 10 adultreferenced items eight childreferenced items item response theory models fitted item calibrations subject scores oneparameter logistic 1pl model compared either twoparameter logistic model 2pl model differential item functioning dif ethnicitythere 5219 eligible 3858 74 completing least one food security item adult item calibrations standard error 1pl model ranged 4082 0019 worried food would run item 3023 0042 adults often eat whole day child item calibrations ranged 3715 0025 relied kinds low cost food 3088 0039 child didnt eat whole day fitting either 2pl model allowed discrimination parameters vary items differential item functioning model allowed item calibrations vary ethnic groups little influence interpretation classification based adultreferenced items showed 19 respondents food insecure without hunger 10 food insecure moderate hunger 6 food insecure severe hunger classification based childreferenced items showed 23 children food insecure without hunger 9 food insecure hunger children adults food insecurity showed strong graded association lower monthly household income p 0001these results support use 18 hfss items classify food security status adults children englishspeaking country food insecurity hunger frequent overall us