OBJECTIVE:
to investigate food insecurity prevalence and associated factors among Bolsa Família Program (BFP) beneficiary families in the municipality of Viçosa-MG, Brazil.
METHODS:
this was a cross-sectional study using a structured questionnaire and the Brazilian Food Insecurity Scale; prevalence ratio (PR) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) were calculated using Poisson regression.
RESULTS:
243 families were evaluated; food insecurity prevalence was 72.8% (being 47.3% mild; 10.7% moderate, 14.8% severe); higher prevalence of food insecurity was observed in households with mothers having lower schooling (PR 1.56; 95%CI: 1.21; 2.68) and belonging to social-economic stratum E (PR 1.82; 95%CI: 1.16; 3.48); following multiple regression analysis, food insecurity remained associated with low maternal education (PR 1.86; 95%CI: 1.52; 2.83).
CONCLUSION:
the high prevalence of food insecurity, associated with low maternal education, justifies the need for targeted government intervention, such as the Bolsa Família Program, associated with structuring actions, particularly in education.
Food and Nutrition Security; Demographic Indicators; Cross-Sectional Studies; Public Policies; Preschool Children
