Investigating the Association between Nutrient Intake and Food Insecurity among Children and Adolescents in Palestine Using Machine Learning Techniques
Radwan Qasrawi,
Sabri Sgahir,
Maysaa Nemer,
Mousa Halaikah,
Manal Badrasawi,
Malak Amro,
Stephanny Vicuna Polo,
Diala Abu Al-Halawa,
Doa’a Mujahed,
Lara Nasreddine,
Ibrahim Elmadfa,
Siham Atari,
Ayoub Al-Jawaldeh
Affiliations
Radwan Qasrawi
Department of Computer Sciences, Al-Quds University, Jerusalem P.O. Box 20002, Palestine
Sabri Sgahir
Department of Nutrition and Food Technology, College of Agriculture, Hebron University, Hebron P.O. Box 40, Palestine
Maysaa Nemer
Institute of Community and Public Health, Birzeit University, Ramallah P.O. Box 14, Palestine
Mousa Halaikah
Nutrition Department, Ministry of Health, Ramallah P.O. Box 4284, Palestine
Manal Badrasawi
Nutrition and Food Technology Department, Faculty of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, An-Najah National University, Nablus P.O. Box 7, Palestine
Malak Amro
Department of Computer Sciences, Al-Quds University, Jerusalem P.O. Box 20002, Palestine
Stephanny Vicuna Polo
Department of Computer Sciences, Al-Quds University, Jerusalem P.O. Box 20002, Palestine
Diala Abu Al-Halawa
Faculty of Medicine, Al-Quds University, Jerusalem P.O. Box 20002, Palestine
Doa’a Mujahed
Department of Nutrition and Food Technology, College of Agriculture, Hebron University, Hebron P.O. Box 40, Palestine
Lara Nasreddine
Nutrition and Food Sciences Department, Faculty of Agriculture and Food Sciences, American University of Beirut, Beirut 1107 2020, Lebanon
Ibrahim Elmadfa
Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
Siham Atari
Department of Computer Sciences, Al-Quds University, Jerusalem P.O. Box 20002, Palestine
Ayoub Al-Jawaldeh
Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean, World Health Organization, Cairo 7608, Egypt
Food insecurity is a public health concern that affects children worldwide, yet it represents a particular burden for low- and middle-income countries. This study aims to utilize machine learning to identify the associations between food insecurity and nutrient intake among children aged 5 to 18 years. The study’s sample encompassed 1040 participants selected from a 2022 food insecurity household conducted in the West Bank, Palestine. The results indicated that food insecurity was significantly associated with dietary nutrient intake and sociodemographic factors, such as age, gender, income, and location. Indeed, 18.2% of the children were found to be food-insecure. A significant correlation was evidenced between inadequate consumption of various nutrients below the recommended dietary allowance and food insecurity. Specifically, insufficient protein, vitamin C, fiber, vitamin B12, vitamin B5, vitamin A, vitamin B1, manganese, and copper intake were found to have the highest rates of food insecurity. In addition, children residing in refugee camps experienced significantly higher rates of food insecurity. The findings emphasize the multilayered nature of food insecurity and its impact on children, emphasizing the need for personalized interventions addressing nutrient deficiencies and socioeconomic factors to improve children’s health and well-being.
