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Food insecurity and sociodemographic factors among children in São José dos Pinhais, Paraná, Brazil, 2017: a cross-sectional study* * Article derived from the academic master’s degree dissertation entitled ‘Dietry practices and household food insecurity among preschool children’, defended by Vanessa da Rocha Chapanski at the Federal University of Paraná Postgraduate Program in Public Health in 2018. Study partially funded by the Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel/Ministry of Education - Funding Code 001.

Abstract

Objective

To analyze association between food insecurity (FI) and sociodemographic factors among children.

Methods

The study was carried out from May to November 2017 with mothers of children (18 - 35 months old) enrolled at public education facilities in São José dos Pinhais, Paraná, Brazil. FI was determined by the Brazilian Household Food Insecurity Measurement Scale. Multinomial logistic regression was used with a hierarchical model.

Results

395 mothers/children participated. Overall FI prevalence was 34.7% (95%CI 28.5;41.5), with prevalence of 25.7% (95%CI 19.2;32.3) for mild FI (MFI) and 9.0% (95%CI 8.5;9.4) for moderate/severe FI (MSFI). Families in the lowest income tercile had higher likelihood of MFI (OR=3.06 - 95%CI 1.26;7.41) or MSFI (OR=6.35 - 95%CI 1.89;21.4) when compared to the highest tercile. Higher MFI prevalence was identified in male children (OR=2.34 - 95%CI 1.49;3.68).

Conclusion

FI was associated with lower income and MFI with male children. Public policies to increase income must be included in FI reduction strategies.

Keywords:
Food Security; Socioeconomic Factors; Infant; Child; Cross-Sectional Studies

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