Food (in)security in families of preschool children in a rural zone of CearáOBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of food (in)security among housteholds in a rural zone of Maranguape, and to verify the association between socioeconomic variables and the degree of food (in)security. METHODS: A descriptive study with a quantitative approach, conducted in the Centro de Saúde da Família (CSF) , Center of Family Health, in a rural zone in Maranguape - Ceará in September of 2009. The sample consisted of 200 families with preschool children who are seen in the CSF, applying the Escala Brasileira de Insegurança Alimentar (EBIA), Brasilian Food Insecurity Scale. RESULTS: Of the families, 12% presented with food security and 88% with food insecurity. A statistically significant association was noted between the prevalence of food (in)security and education of the head of household (p<0.0001), number of household members (p = 0.018), and family income (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: With the application of the EBIA, we could diagnose food (in)security, which enables nurses to offer health education interventions aimed at improving care related to alimentation.
