The COVID-19 pandemic had an impact on the community's economy. As many as 75.2% of households in urban (Jakarta) and semi-urban (Depok) areas were affected. The results of this study indicate that there was no significant difference in the impact of the pandemic on the community's economy between urban and semi-urban areas. In both urban and semi-urban areas, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic that was most felt was a reduction in income with an average of 62.7%. The same thing is also reported by a study conducted in Vietnam which stated that the majority of respondents (66.9%) had a decrease in household income due to COVID-19 [16]. A study on American society conducted by the Pew Research Center [17] also reports that 60% of respondents had lower incomes than before the COVID-19 pandemic due to job losses, reduced worked hours, or pay cuts.
The results of this study show that only 35% of respondents were food secure, the remaining 65.0% of respondents had food insecurity during the COVID-19 pandemic. Food insecurity during the COVID-19 pandemic also occurs in various countries in the world with the prevalence not much different. In Bangladesh, there was an increase in the number of families experiencing food insecurity during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown by 51.7% [18]. Adams et al. [19] in California also reported that there was an increase in food insecurity conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic. A study conducted in the United States showed that out of 3219 respondents, 32.3% of households had very low food security and 67.7% of households had low food security since COVID-19 [20].
Food shortages during the pandemic affected household food consumption. In this study, households that had food shortages tend to consume less varied foods. In addition, there were those who eat less food and some even do not eat any food in a day. Changes in household food consumption during the pandemic also occurred in Uganda and Kenya. Research conducted by Kansiime [21] indicate that during a pandemic COVID-19, a reduction in the frequency of consumption of a variety of food groups and mainly occurs in low-income families. Jafri et al. [22] also reported that during the COVID-19 pandemic there was less access to food so respondents tended to reduce the size and amount of food.
Changes in food consumption in vulnerable groups such as infants, toddlers, under-five, pregnant women, and lactating mothers also occur in this study. Based on the results of the study, it was found that pregnant women were the most experienced changes in eating during the pandemic, and the changes that occurred the most were the reduced types of food eaten. Reducing the type of food on pregnant women was worrying because it will affect the low adequacy of nutrients recommended for consumption by pregnant women such as protein, fat, iron, and calcium that can be affected the fetus [23]. Currently the prevalence of iron deficiency anemia among pregnant women in Indonesia is high, namely 48.9% [13], thus the phenomenon of reducing the type of food consumed will worsen the anemia status of pregnant women because iron-rich foods will be obtained if the mother eats a variety of foods including animal source foods.
Research conducted by Jafri et al. [22] reported that vulnerable groups such as children, pregnant women and the elderly are struggling to obtain adequate food during the COVID-19 pandemic, and one way to do this was to reduce the amount of food eaten. Changes in food consumption in vulnerable groups during the pandemic in this study risked the emergence of nutritional problems in each of these groups. Groups of parents are at risk of experiencing malnutrition and decreased body resistance so that it will increase the morbidity and mortality of the elderly [24]. Meanwhile, food reduction in vulnerable groups such as infants, toddlers, under-five, pregnant women, and lactating mothers is at risk of increasing stunting prevalence because these groups are in need of adequate nutrition to support child growth and development [25].
The results showed that family income during the pandemic had a significant relationship with household food security. Households with incomes below the Jakarta/Depok minimum salary level are 4 times more likely to experience food insecurity than households with incomes equal to or more than the Jakarta/Depok minimum salary level. Study in Bangladesh show that income loss was positively correlated with household food insecurity [26]. Study in Bangladesh show that income loss was positively correlated with household food insecurity [21]. Family income can affect the family's purchasing power [27]. Low family incomes tend not to be able to provide a variety of foodstuffs [28, 29] and at risk of food insecurity [30].
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic (reduced income and stopped working) also had a significant relationship with food security. Households who have experienced the impact of the pandemic have reduced income and stopped working have a 3 times higher risk of experiencing food insecurity. In line with the research conducted Kundu et al. [31] which shows that employment and income are potential predictors of low food security scores. Unicef [32] also emphasized that job losses and reduced income made it difficult to access food.
The results showed that the age of the respondents had a significant relationship with household food security. In this study, respondents aged < 31 years had a 2 times higher risk of experiencing food insecurity. Similar results were also reported by Elsahoryi et al. [33] in Jordan, age is associated with food insecurity status, with younger respondents (18–30 years old) 1.8 times more likely to experience severe food insecurity. Research by Abdullah et al. [34] in Malaysia also shows that the age of the household's head was significantly related to household food insecurity, namely that households with older household's heads were more food insecure than households with younger household's heads. Age is associated with the economic condition of the family, namely the age of older respondents tends to have a more established economy when compared to younger ages [34].
Husband's work status during the pandemic in this study became the control variable in the relationship between the independent variables and food security. This can happen because the husband's work affects the amount of income received by the family which then affects the household's food security. Charvadeh et al. [35] reported that during the COVID-19 outbreak, the household head's work status was directly related to food security. Research in Bangladesh also shows that husband's employment status was significantly related to food security [31].