The experience of food insecurity for rural families : nursing practice and policy implications

Food insecurity is a problem for almost 1 in 10 Canadians (Tarasuk & Vogt, 2009). There is a growing body of literature citing the negative physiological, social, and emotional consequences of food insecurity, yet little is known about the everyday lived experiences of families with food insecurity. This critical ethnography used semi-structured interviews to explore the experience of food insecurity from the perspective of seven mothers with children in rural Ontario, recruited through convenience and purposeful sampling. Critical theory and critical caring theory informed the qualitative research design and analysis, with attention to broad social, historical, political, and economic influences on food insecurity. Findings describe the great lengths participants went to make ends meet. These findings are framed using the social determinants of health. Influences of the rural environment, community supports, and broader sociopolitical policies on families' food insecurity are discussed, with practice and policy implications for community health nurses.