Food and nutritional insecurity of families using the Family Health Strategy in the inner Paraíba State

Abstract

Background

Food security and improved nutrition are an important aspect of sustainable development.

Objective

To identify household factors that may influence the food and nutritional security of families with children under five years of age in areas covered by the Family Health Strategy.

Method

A cross-sectional study involving 469 families from seven municipalities in the interior of Paraíba. The food and nutritional security of the families-was evaluated using the Brazilian Scale of Food Insecurity. We analyzed information related to household determinants of moderate/severe food insecurity.

Results

Food and nutritional insecurity reached 74.2% of families, of which 17.5% were moderate/severe food insecurity. Higher socioeconomic vulnerability was the most interfered variable in moderate/severe food insecurity. Failure to supplement with iron/folic acid during pregnancy and to be beneficiaries of the Programa Bolsa Família also represented exposures associated with the outcome.

Conclusion

The results show high prevalence of food and nutritional insecurity, the most serious of which suggests the importance of improvements in the socioeconomic status of the family and the reinforcement of actions in the context of the Programa Bolsa Família and nutritional care during pregnancy.

Keywords:
primary health care; child; food and nutrition security; socioeconomic factors; government programs