Diet and food insecurity among mothers, infants, and young children in Peru before and during COVID‐19: A panel survey

Abstract

The COVID‐19 pandemic may impact diet and nutrition through increased household food insecurity, lack of access to health services, and poorer quality diets. The primary aim of this study is to assess the impact of the pandemic on dietary outcomes of mothers and their infants and young children (IYC) in low‐income urban areas of Peru. We conducted a panel study, with one survey prepandemic ( n = 244) and one survey 9 months after the onset of COVID‐19 ( n = 254). We assessed breastfeeding and complementary feeding indicators and maternal dietary diversity in both surveys. During COVID‐19, we assessed household food insecurity experience and economic impacts of the pandemic on livelihoods; receipt of financial or food assistance, and uptake of health services. Almost all respondents (98.0%) reported adverse economic impacts due to the pandemic and 46.9% of households were at risk of moderate or severe household food insecurity. The proportion of households receiving government food assistance nearly doubled between the two surveys (36.5%–59.5%). Dietary indicators, however, did not worsen in mothers or IYC. Positive changes included an increase in exclusive breastfeeding <6 months (24.2%–39.0%, p < 0.008) and a decrease in sweet food consumption by IYC (33.1%–18.1%, p = 0.001) and mothers (34.0%–14.6%, p < 0.001). The prevalence of sugar‐sweetened beverage consumption remained high in both mothers (97%) and IYC (78%). In sum, we found dietary indicators had not significantly worsened 9 months into the COVID‐19 pandemic. However, several indicators remain suboptimal and should be targeted in future interventions.

Food insecurity and its socioeconomic and health determinants in pregnant women and mothers of children under 2 years of age, during the COVID-19 pandemic: A systematic review and meta-analysis

“…The publications date from 2020 to 2022, with six cross-sectional articles ( 14 – 19 ) and four longitudinal articles ( 20 – 23 ). The studies were developed in different continents: America ( 14 , 16 – 19 , 23 ); Africa ( 14 ); Asia ( 15 , 21 , 22 ).…”

“…Considering the sample, the studies evaluated pregnant women ( 15 , 17 , 19 ), pregnant and postpartum women ( 14 ), and mothers of children under 2 years of age ( 16 , 18 , 20 – 23 ). The sample number ranged from 68 ( 18 ) to 6,592 women ( 17 ) ( Table 1 ).…”

Food insecurity associated with self-reported mental health outcomes in Peruvian households during the COVID-19 pandemic

“…Recent studies of populations in other countries of the region show similar prevalence rates (34). Poverty, concern about unemployment and loss of income due to COVID-19 are the probable causes of the increase in food insecurity in Peruvian households (9). A national study showed that the country's positive economic growth from 2005 to 2015 was interrupted and even declined by 0.8% during the pandemic (10).…”

“…These prevalence rates of food insecurity in the country was worsened by the arrival of the pandemic. In a study of households in low-income urban areas of Peru, 46.9% of households experienced moderate household food insecurity and 4.1% experienced severe food insecurity (9). Unemployment and loss of income due to COVID-19 would be the probable causes of the increase in food insecurity in Peruvian households (10).…”

Negative Effects of Chronic High Intake of Fructose on Lung Diseases

“…An observational study enrolling 1000 Spaniards with a mean age of 51 years reported that consumption of SSBs had increased in participants who gained weight during the COVID-19 lockdown, compared with those who did not gain weight (71.0% vs. 23.1%, p < 0.001) [ 154 ]; however, a COVID-19 health survey of 28,029 Belgian participants aged ≥ 18 years showed that consumption of SSBs increased both in participants who gained weight (9.2%) and in those who did not (8.7%) during the COVID-19 lockdown [ 155 ]. Data, obtained from Peruvian participants in the Perusano (pre-COVID-19) and the Stamina (COVID-19) surveys, showed a high prevalence of SSBs consumption in both populations (>78.0%) [ 156 ].…”