The influence of the environment on food and nutrition insecurity in children

In Brazil, Food and Nutrition Insecurity (FNI) is defined by the National Food and Nutrition Security Policy based on two aspects: food, related to product availability, and nutritional, related to food quality. According to data from the Household Budget Survey, more than 6.5 million children under the age of five lived in FNI households between 2017 and 2018. The present study aims to analyze Food and Nutritional Insecurity in children aged 0 to 2 years treated in primary care. This is a cross-sectional analytical study with convenience sampling carried out in the Basic Health Units of São Luís, Maranhão. Data collection used the Brazilian Food Insecurity Scale (EBIA) and a sociodemographic questionnaire collected from the Food and Nutrition Surveillance System (SISVAN). Statistical analysis was performed using STATA 15.0 software (Stata Corp., College Station, Texas, USA). It was observed that Food and Nutrition Insecurity is directly related to socioeconomic factors. In the present study, the data confirm greater vulnerability in families that presented a prevalence of mothers in the age group of 15 to 24 years (50,94%), single or married represented the same percentage of (41,51%), the majority had completed elementary education (26,42%), with an income of one minimum wage (50,94%) and with (52,83%) of households composed of 4 to 7 individuals. Furthermore, according to EBIA criteria, (56,75%) of children aged 0 to 2 years were in a situation of Mild Food Insecurity, followed by food security (24,32%), and finally moderate food security (18.92%). Given the findings, it is possible to infer that IAN is a reflection of inequality and low socioeconomic indices present in part of the population, which highlights the need to intensify actions aimed at comprehensive child care, seeking to realize and guarantee the right to adequate food and nutrition.