Table 2 Crude and adjusted odds ratios for factors associated with food insecurity among households in the Golestan Province, Iran (n = 5129)

 Illiterate

6.42 (5.07–8.14)

< 0.001

2.62 (1.88–3.64)

< 0.001

 Basic literacy

6.38 (4.98–8.17)

< 0.001

2.82 (2.05–3.88)

< 0.001

 Primary or middle school

4.45 (3.67–5.39)

< 0.001

1.99 (1.55–2.55)

< 0.001

 High school

1.96 (1.60–2.42)

< 0.001

1.20 (0.94–1.53)

0.13

 University degree

Ref

Ref

 Illiterate

5.20 (4.08–6.62)

< 0.001

1.60 (1.15–2.24)

0.005

 Basic literacy

5.21 (4.03–6.74)

< 0.001

1.88 (1.36–2.61)

< 0.001

 Primary or middle school

3.81 (3.01–4.81)

< 0.001

1.57 (1.17–2.10)

0.002

 High school

2.04 (1.59–2.62)

< 0.001

1.29 (0.97–1.73)

0.07

 University degree

Ref

Ref

 Fars

Ref

Ref

 Turkmen

1.26 (1.11–1.43)

< 0.001

1.00 (0.86–1.16)

0.95

 Sistani

2.31 (1.90–2.80)

< 0.001

1.48 (1.19–1.85)

< 0.001

 Baluchi

5.56 (3.59–8.60)

< 0.001

2.75 (1.69–4.46)

< 0.001

 Other

1.46 (1.10–1.93)

0.008

1.75 (1.28–2.40)

< 0.001

 Laborer

Ref

Ref

 Unemployed

1.22 (0.867–1.721)

0.253

–

 Farmer/rancher

0.29 (0.24–0.35)

< 0.0001

0.23 (0.15–0.34)

< 0.001

 Public sector employees

0.07 (0.05–0.09)

< 0.0001

0.18 (0.12–0.29)

< 0.001

 Self-employed

0.25 (0.21–0.29)

< 0.0001

0.34 (0.23–0.50)

< 0.001

 Jobless/retired

0.18 (0.15–0.23)

< 0.0001

0.20 (0.13–0.30)

< 0.001

 Housewife

2.19 (1.78–2.70)

< 0.001

1.53 (1.16–2.02)

0.002

 Employed

Ref

Ref

 Father

Ref

Ref

 Mother

2.09 (1.64–2.65)

< 0.001

1.67 (1.03–2.70)

0.03

 Other

1.78 (1.12–2.85)

0.01

1.65 (0.82–3.34)

0.15