Prevalence and factors associated with food insecurity in quilombola families from Alagoas, Brazil.

Abstract

Objective This study aimed identify the prevalence and factors associated with food insecurity in families from the remaining quilombola communities in Alagoas, Brazil. Methods This is a cross-sectional study involving families residing in a random sample of 34 out of the 68 quilombola communities in Alagoas. The dependent variable was food insecurity, defined by the Brazilian Food Insecurity Scale, and its association (prevalence ratio - PR and 95% CI) with the independent variables (socioeconomic, demographic, and environmental) was assessed through multivariable analysis (Poisson regression with robust variance adjustment). Results A total of 2,485 families were evaluated, of which 67.6% were experiencing food insecurity (32.9% mild, 20.1% moderate, and 14.6% severe). Variables associated with moderate + severe forms were: improper waste disposal other than public collection; households with ≤4 rooms; using inadequate water for consumption; households with >4 residents; with residents <18 years old; low educational level of the head of the family (≤8 years); belonging to the lower economic class (D-E); and being a beneficiary of the Bolsa Família Program. Conclusion Food insecurity affects more than two-thirds of quilombola families in Alagoas, constituting an expressive public health problem. In its more severe forms (moderate+severe), it is associated with worse environmental, socioeconomic, and demographic conditions.