Factors Associated with Food Insecurity in Latin America and the Caribbean Countries: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of 13 Countries

Hernández-Vasquéz, Akram; Visconti-Lopez, Fabriccio J.; Vargas-Fernández, Rodrigo

doi:10.3390/nu14153190

Cited by 14 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 44 publications

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“…However, a study conducted in Brazil suggested that after the pandemic restrictions were adopted, including the closure of schools, families with children were less likely to experience moderate to severe food insecurity because of the social programs established at the national level and/or the solidarity of non-profit organizations and private sector efforts that delivered food kits to these families ( 29 ). Another study found that households with more rooms in urban areas were less likely to experience food insecurity, a finding that was possibly related to the socioeconomic level of the household ( 30 ). A study conducted in eight cities in Peru reported that people who lost their jobs during the pandemic had an 82% higher prevalence of food insecurity, which could be due to the greater reduction of the labor force in that country during the year 2020 ( 31 ), a result that is consistent with our results.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Food insecurity and sociodemographic factors in Latin America during the COVID-19 pandemic

Novoa-Sanzana,

Moya-Osorio,

Morejón Terán

et al. 2024

Revista Panamericana De Salud Pública

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Objective. To understand the association of food insecurity with sociodemographic factors in a sample population in Latin America during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods. This was a multicenter cross-sectional study conducted in 10 countries in Latin America using an online survey through various digital platforms from October 14, 2020 to February 15, 2021. Statistical analysis of data was performed by applying descriptive statistics, chi-square test, and logistic regression analysis. Results. Of a total of 6 357 surveys, 58.2% of respondents experienced food security, 29.3% were slightly food insecure, 9.2% were moderately food insecure, and 3.3% were severely food insecure. Concerning the association food insecurity and sociodemographic variables, there is a significant association in the variables studied, including area of residence, education level, occupation, number of persons in the household, household with children younger than 10 years of age, and socioeconomic level. Conclusions. These findings indicate that sociodemographic factors associated with food insecurity during the COVID-19 pandemic in Latin America were rural residence; complete and incomplete basic and secondary schooling; occupation (homemaker, unemployed, and self-employed); low, medium-low, and medium socioeconomic level; household with more than four persons; and household with children younger than 10 years of age.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Food insecurity and sociodemographic factors in Latin America during the COVID-19 pandemic

Novoa-Sanzana,

Moya-Osorio,

Morejón Terán

et al. 2024

Revista Panamericana De Salud Pública

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“…This may have forced the prioritization of expenses (e.g., food, housing, and transportation) and the use of health insurance, leaving oral health aside, even after vaccination and the lifting of care restrictions. As a result of unemployment, the reduction in family income and the increase in food prices also brought with it a scenario of food insecurity, which affected Peru to a greater extent compared to other Latin American countries [ 38 , 39 ]. Likewise, due to the fear of contagion, especially due to the high rate of excess mortality in Peru [ 40 ], it is possible that both patients and dentists postponed treatments or preventive visits [ 41 – 44 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Frequency, inequalities and spatial distribution of oral health services utilization in Peruvian children under twelve years of age: a population-based comparative analysis of the years 2017 and 2021

Azañedo,

Hernández-Vásquez,

Visconti-Lopez

et al. 2023

BMC Oral Health

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Background Oral diseases pose a significant public health challenge among Peruvian children. However, oral health services utilization among them is marked by inequalities, which may have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The objective was to compare the frequency, inequalities, determinants of inequality, and spatial distribution in oral health services utilization in Peruvian children under 12 years of age in 2017 and 2021. Methods Comparative secondary data analysis from the Demographic and Family Health Survey (ENDES) for the years 2017 (38,787 minors) and 2021 (36,729 minors). Age-adjusted prevalence ratios (PR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated to assess the change in oral health services utilization in the last 12 months between the years 2017 and 2021, stratifying by demographic and socioeconomic covariates. Inequality was assessed by decomposing the Erreygers Concentration Index (ECI) and calculating the percentage contribution to inequality of the independent variables. Spatial analysis was performed using spatial autocorrelation methods, Hot Spot Analysis, Cluster and Outlier analysis, Inverse Distance Weighting, ordinary Kriging, and Kulldorff analysis. Results The probability of Peruvian children under 12 years of age using oral health services in the last 12 months was reduced by 45% in 2021 compared to 2017. The ECI identified a significant reduction in oral health services utilization inequalities at the national level (Diff: -0.0963; p < 0.001). The main contributor to inequality was higher tutor education level (55.2% in 2017 and 82.7% in 2021). In the comparison of spatial distribution, there was a greater dispersion of the conglomerates in which the use of oral health services is concentrated in 2021. Conclusions The frequency of oral health services utilization in the Peruvian children under 12 years of age was halved between 2017 and 2021. This problem is transversal to the entire population at the demographic and socioeconomic level. The key factor contributing to inequalities in the utilization of oral health services was the higher educational attainment of caregivers or guardians. Despite the improvement observed in inequalities and spatial distribution of the concentration of oral health services utilization, it is necessary to keep monitoring these patterns to guide decision-making.

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“…On the other hand, during the pandemic, changes in the eating habits characterized by an increase in the consumption of high-calorie processed foods (sugary drinks, saturated fats and salt) occurred in children due to the low cost of this type of food and beverages and to a decreased parental control over their children's diets [39,45,46]. Moreover, movement restrictions due to social confinement and food insecurity during the pandemic in various regions of the world such as Latin America [47,48] limited the access to fresh and unprocessed foods such as fruits and vegetables, contributing to an inadequate nutrition of the children and, consequently, to an increase in childhood overweight and obesity [49].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Changes in the Prevalence of Overweight and Obesity among Peruvian Children under Five Years before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Findings from a Nationwide Population-Based Study

Hernández-Vasquéz

Vargas-Fernández

2022

IJERPH

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This study aimed to identify changes in the prevalence of childhood (children under five years of age) overweight and obesity in Peru as a whole and at the departmental level, before and during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. We performed a secondary data analysis of two Demographic and Family Health Surveys (2019 and 2021) in Peru. The outcome was childhood overweight and obesity, defined as a weight-for-height score greater than 2 standard deviations. Poisson log generalized linear regression models adjusted for sex and/or age in months of the child were fitted to obtain the prevalence ratios of the changes in childhood overweight and obesity from 2019 to 2021. The analysis included 41,533 (2019: 20,414; 2021: 21,119) participants. The prevalence of childhood overweight and obesity was 6.4% in 2019 and 7.8% in 2021. Female children, aged 2, 3 and 4 years, and mothers who self-identified as non-native, had secondary and higher education, belonged to the middle and richer wealth quintile and resided in an urban area, in a village, in a small city and in the coastal region showed the largest increases in the prevalence of childhood overweight and obesity in 2021 compared to 2019. The departments of Pasco, Apurímac, Junín, Cusco, Lambayeque and La Libertad presented the largest increases in the prevalence of these nutritional disorders. During the pandemic, an increase in the prevalence of childhood overweight and obesity was observed, with demographic and socioeconomic factors accounting for the largest increases in the prevalence rates. A restructuring of overweight and obesity control strategies is required to curb this steady increase.

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Factors Associated with Food Insecurity in Latin America and the Caribbean Countries: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of 13 Countries

Cited by 14 publications

References 44 publications

Food insecurity and sociodemographic factors in Latin America during the COVID-19 pandemic

Food insecurity and sociodemographic factors in Latin America during the COVID-19 pandemic

Frequency, inequalities and spatial distribution of oral health services utilization in Peruvian children under twelve years of age: a population-based comparative analysis of the years 2017 and 2021

Changes in the Prevalence of Overweight and Obesity among Peruvian Children under Five Years before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Findings from a Nationwide Population-Based Study

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