AVALIAÇÃO DA SEGURANÇA ALIMENTAR EM DOMICÍLIOS COM CRIANÇAS DURANTE A PANDEMIA DA COVID-19: ASSOCIAÇÃO COM VARIÁVEIS SOCIAIS, DEMOGRÁFICAS E DE SAÚDE INFANTIL

Objective: To evaluate the relationship between food and nutrition security and social and demographic aspects of families and children's health conditions. Method: Cross-sectional study, carried out from May to August 2022, in the municipalities of Acarape/CE and Redenção/CE, with family members of children under five years of age. The questionnaire of the sociodemographic profile, the child's health condition and access to emergency aid and/or allowances from the federal government and the Brazilian Food Insecurity Scale were used. The data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences, using Fisher's exact test and the Chi-square test. The study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee. Results: A total of 214 families participated in the study. Most were in a situation of Food Insecurity (n=161; 75.3%). A statistically significant association was identified between food (in)security and occupation (p=0.001), family income (p=0.015), changes in family income during the pandemic (p=0.003), receipt of Emergency Aid (p=0.05) and receipt of Bolsa Família (p=0.001). Conclusion: Therefore, the importance of government strategies to overcome social vulnerabilities is reiterated, in order to promote adequate access to food and guarantee this right.