Food Security of the Pregnant Population Cared for in Bosques De María in Barranquilla, Colombia in 2020

Abstract

Background: According to observations of maternal and child health and nutritional indicators and the levels of food insecurity in the Atlantic region, the need to characterize the components of food access, intake and nutritional status of the population of interest in the city of Barranquilla was identified. The aim of this research was to characterize the food and nutritional security of the pregnant population served in Camino Bosques de María Health Service in Barranquilla during their last trimester in 2020.Methods: This was a cross-sectional descriptive study that assessed the dimensions of food security situation to determine the approximation of access to food, consumption practices, health knowledge, and nutritional status of pregnant women who were cared for by the Camino Bosques de Maria Health Service, located in southwestern Barranquilla, one of the most vulnerable zones in the city.Results: With regard to household members, information was collected from 331 households, which consisted of an average of 4.6 members; only 10.1% of pregnant women were in the contributory scheme, while 54.9% were in the subsidised scheme, and 35.1% did not have any type of affiliation. The foods with the highest weekly average reported intake were cereals such as rice and pasta (6.3 days per week). In relation to their nutritional status according to anthropometry, 41.4% had an adequate body mass index, 23% were overweight, 19.3% were underweight, and 13.9% were obese for gestational age. A total of 2.4% did not have gestational age information for this calculation.Conclusions: Improving food security and nutrition during pregnancy is vitally important, as it promotes maternal and child health. In a territory such as Barranquilla, this characterization allows health decision-makers to link programs that promote not only health at the intrahospital level but also at the community level, as described in resolution 3280 of 2018, the ten-year public health plan—currently under evaluation and construction—and the ten-year breastfeeding plan.