AN ETHICAL EVALUATION OF FOOD INSECURITY AND ITS EFFECT ON CHILD HEALTH IN URBAN SETTINGS AND A DISCUSSION ABOUT AN ETHICAL OBLIGATION AS A HEALTH CARE PROVIDER TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE

Abstract

Food insecurity affects 1 in 7 households with children and has worsened due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Food insecurity disproportionately impacts marginalized populations including households with children with a single parent (usually the mother), families with low socioeconomic status, and Black and Latinx families. Amartya Sen, an economist and philosopher, was a pioneer in viewing food insecurity as a social phenomenon rather than a natural phenomenon. Furthermore, he highlighted the role that economics, politics, and social norms play in creating and perpetuating the problem. Therefore, to address food insecurity, we must address the root causes, which include poverty, structural racism, and lack of social cohesion among others. Urban bioethics provides a lens to examine food insecurity through agency, solidarity, social justice, community collaboration, and structural competency. In this thesis, I will explore the history of food insecurity in the United States, disparities in who is affected, the impact on children's health, and how government, community, and healthcare programs currently address the issue. Urban bioethics offers more than just a perspective for understanding an issue; it provides guidance on how to address this multifaceted problem in an ethical manner. Therefore, I will also demonstrate that there is an ethical responsibility as a healthcare provider and system to address the issue and explore potential solutions and strategies that align with urban bioethical principles.