Insegurança alimentar em famílias com crianças menores de 6 anos no Ceará: prevalência e fatores determinantes

Abstract

Food and Nutrition Security is the right of all families to regular and permanent access to sufficient quality food. The denial of this right configures food insecurity (FI). The phenomenon plagues the world population at different levels and in Brazil the state of Ceará is one of the most affected. The study’s aims were to measure the prevalence and identify the factors associated with FI in families with children under 6 years. This study is part of the 6th Maternal and Child Health Survey of Ceará (6ª. PESMIC), a cross-sectional household survey with representative sample and statewide scope. The multistage sampling comprised 3,200 families with children under 6 years of age and their respective mothers, living in 28 municipalities of the state. Statistical analysis was performed using IBM SPSS version 23 software. Descriptive and association analyzes were performed and, lastly, a Poisson regression model was adjusted for the food insecurity outcome. The estimated prevalence of FI was 61.4%, as a whole, with 17,2% and 6,4% presenting it in a moderate and severe degrees, respectively. The main associated factors that remained significant after adjusting the model were: family income, participation in the ‘Bolsa Família’ Program and family exposition to adverse factors, such as domestic violence, unemploiment and lack of social care network. In addition to low income, violence and lack of social support impact the access to food in Ceará, increasing the risk FI to families with children under six years of age.