# Changes in food sufficiency among Korean adults in urban and rural areas during the COVID-19 pandemic: an analysis of the 7th and 8th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

## TL;DR

This study found that food sufficiency improved in urban Korean adults during the pandemic, but not in rural areas, highlighting the need for targeted food policies in rural regions.

## Contribution

The study reveals urban-rural disparities in food sufficiency changes during the pandemic and suggests the need for region-specific food policies.

## Key findings

- Food sufficiency improved significantly in urban areas during the pandemic.
- Rural food sufficiency improved only among females, but not overall.
- No significant interaction was found between region and socio-demographic factors in food sufficiency changes.

## Abstract

Understanding changes in food sufficiency within various demographic groups during emergency situations, such as the global coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, is crucial in formulating public health policies for future preparedness. This study investigated potential differences between urban and rural residents in food sufficiency trends during the COVID-19 pandemic and examined how these changes varied according to socio-demographic factors.

This cross-sectional study analyzed data from 19,724 adults aged 20 years and older, utilizing information from the 7th-8th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2018-2021).

In urban areas, across all subpopulations, food sufficiency improved significantly during the COVID-19 period relative to pre-pandemic levels (p<0.001). However, in rural regions, a significant increase in food sufficiency during the COVID-19 era was observed only among female, with an odds ratio of 1.42 (95% confidence interval, 1.06 to 1.89). Nevertheless, no significant interaction terms were found between region and various socio-demographic factors regarding changes in food sufficiency during the COVID-19 period.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, food sufficiency among urban residents improved compared to the pre-pandemic era, whereas their rural counterparts saw no such improvement. Additionally, no significant interaction was detected between urban versus rural areas and changes in food sufficiency during the COVID-19 period. These findings indicate the need for targeted food policies to prepare for potential future pandemics, particularly in rural areas, where food sufficiency did not improve.