Food (in)Security and Peripartum Health in Marginalised Neighbourhoods in Denmark: Intersectional and Biopsychosocial Perspectives From Birthing Parents and Care Workers

Abstract

Household food insecurity (HFI), stemming from inadequate income, negatively affects health—disproportionately so among expecting/new parents and children. Nordic-style redistribution structures are expected to mitigate HFI, but it is currently unclear whether this holds true, especially among ethnic minority families who are facing both structural discrimination in access to state resources and interpersonal discrimination and barriers. To explore whether Nordic-style redistributive infrastructure ameliorates pregnancy HFI and to assess attitudes about HFI, in this qualitative-quantitative study, we ran and thematically analysed focus group discussions (FGDs) and interviews about HFI and health with ethnic minority birthing parents who live in marginalised neighbourhoods (n = 5), with their social/health care providers (n = 8) and with ethnic minority women straddling the roles of birthing parents and social/health care providers (n = 11). We contextualised these FGD/interview data with ethnographic notes and with frequency statistics on HFI among birthing parents (n = 267; 54 from marginalised, ethnic minority majority neighbourhoods). We found that HFI affects families from marginalised Danish neighbourhoods. Positionalities influence views on two overarching themes on HFI experiences—resources and health knowledge—with professionals emphasising health knowledge and parents emphasising resources. Nordic political economies may reduce but not eliminate HFI for young families, particularly in marginalised neighbourhoods, calling for further monitoring and intervention.