Food Insecurity Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic and Early Childhood Development.

The study sample had a lower rate of food insecurity (9.1%) compared to national averages, which may reflect selection bias or missing data from families with lower incomes who missed visits. The analysis used z-scores, which means the results cannot determine if the children with persistent food insecurity fell below the specific cutoff scores required for developmental referral. Key demographic variables such as race, ethnicity, and insurance status were not available in the dataset, limiting the ability to control for these confounders. The study did not measure the severity of food insecurity or distinguish between adult and child hunger within the household. Food insecurity may be a proxy for other unmeasured social drivers of health rather than a direct cause of developmental delay.

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Do not assume that any instance of food insecurity leads to developmental delay. The study found no significant impact from transient food insecurity (new or resolved). Additionally, the small differences in scores for persistent food insecurity do not necessarily mean these children met the criteria for developmental referral.