Obesogenic behaviour and food insecurity on dietary intake of informal working mothers with children under five in the post-pandemic era

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has had a substantial impact on informal working mothers, who struggle to balance employment and childcare amid limited resources. These challenges have increased food insecurity and obesogenic behaviour, affecting their dietary intake. This study examined the association between food insecurity and obesogenic behaviour in informal working mothers in peri-urban and rural areas, focusing on their dietary patterns during the post-pandemic era. Method: This cross-sectional study was conducted in peri-urban and rural areas of Indonesia between November and December 2022. A total of 143 informal working mothers with children under five were recruited through consecutive sampling; data collection was carried out via home visits. Household food insecurity and obesogenic behaviour were assessed using validated questionnaires, while dietary intake was assessed using dietary recalls, with statistical analysis performed using multinomial logistic regression analysis. Results: Obesogenic behaviour was more prevalent in rural areas (59.1%), while food insecurity with hunger was more prevalent in periurban areas (60.5%). Obesogenic behaviour had no significant association with dietary intake. Regression analysis showed that food insecurity with hunger had lower odds of high protein intake (OR=0.30, p=0.038) and high carbohydrate intake (OR=0.26, p=0.024). The model suggested that additional social, economic, and environmental factors likely contributed to dietary differences. Conclusion: Household food insecurity was higher in peri-urban areas and significantly associated with energy, protein, and carbohydrate intakes, while obesogenic behaviour showed no significant link to dietary intake. Ensuring food security in families with informal working mothers requires comprehensive efforts.