Psychometric behavior of the Brazilian food insecurity scale applied repeatedly to socio-economically vulnerable women

This study aimed to evaluate the psychometric behavior of the Brazilian Food Insecurity Scale EBIA by reapplying it to a population with a higher degree of social vulnerability and to assess the relationship between the EBIA and socioeconomic level and food consumption. A short prospective cohort study was conducted with socio-economically vulnerable women. Three interviews were conducted three months apart to collect data on socioeconomic factors, food consumption patterns, and food insecurity using the 8-item EBIA scale. Data were collected from 181 women across 10 Family Basic Health Units of the Unified Health System (SUS), the public health system, in João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazil. The results indicate high internal consistency of the scale (Cronbach’s alpha > 0.85) across all data collection points. A high prevalence of food insecurity among women and a dose-response relationship were observed, with higher levels of food insecurity associated with lower family income and reduced consumption of nutritious foods, such as fruits and meat. The study confirmed the solid psychometric validity and consistency over time of the EBIA when administered repeatedly over short periods, providing valuable information for the continued monitoring, development, and guiding of Food and Nutrition Security policies.