Prevalence and factors associated with food insecurity in quilombola families from Alagoas, Brazil

• Autor(a) principal: Duarte, Luisa Elvira Cavazzani
• Data de Publicação: 2024
• Outros Autores: Santos, Tamara Rodrigues dos, Santos, Ewerton Amorim dos, Silva-Ferreira, Haroldo da
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: eng
• Título da fonte: Revista de Nutrição
• Texto Completo: https://periodicos.puc-campinas.edu.br/nutricao/article/view/12765

Objective This study aimed identify the prevalence and factors associated with food insecurity in families from the remaining quilombola communities in Alagoas, Brazil. Methods This is a cross-sectional study involving families residing in a random sample of 34 out of the 68 quilombola communities in Alagoas. The dependent variable was food insecurity, defined by the Brazilian Food Insecurity Scale, and its association (prevalence ratio - PR and 95% CI) with the independent variables (socioeconomic, demographic, and environmental) was assessed through multivariable analysis (Poisson regression with robust variance adjustment). Results A total of 2,485 families were evaluated, of which 67.6% were experiencing food insecurity (32.9% mild, 20.1% moderate, and 14.6% severe). Variables associated with moderate + severe forms were: improper waste disposal other than public collection; households with ≤4 rooms; using inadequate water for consumption; households with >4 residents; with residents <18 years old; low educational level of the head of the family (≤8 years); belonging to the lower economic class (D-E); and being a beneficiary of the Bolsa Família Program. Conclusion Food insecurity affects more than two-thirds of quilombola families in Alagoas, constituting an expressive public health problem. In its more severe forms (moderate+severe), it is associated with worse environmental, socioeconomic, and demographic conditions.