Objectives: Food insecurity and malnutrition are still a public health issue, particularly in developing countries. Household food security is a determinant factor of dietary quantity and quality. This study aims to analyse the correlation between household food security and children’s dietary habit in food-insecure areas.
Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Bangkalan District, Madura Island, Indonesia and included 89 households with children under five. The Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES) was administered to assess household food security status. The children’s dietary habit was assessed using the Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ). Spearman’s rank correlation was applied to analyse the correlation between children’s dietary habits and household food security status in Madura Island, Indonesia.
Results: A high proportion of food-insecure households (71.9%) was found in this study. Children under five have low consumption of vegetables and fruits. There was no significant correlation between household food security status with children’s dietary habits of staple food, and protein sources of food. There was a significant correlation between household food security status with children’s dietary habits of vegetables and fruits.
Conclusion: Parents can provide food sources of carbohydrates and protein regardless of their household food security status. Nonetheless, parents need to encourage the consumption of vegetables and fruits for their children. Food insecure households can provide vegetables and fruits that were highly available and accessible such as water spinach, banana, and orange.