Rural electrification and child malnutrition reduction through food security pathways in La Guajira Colombia

Rural electrification is widely recognized as an important component of human development; however, evidence on its relationship with food security and child nutrition remains limited in Colombia, particularly in La Guajira, a region characterized by persistent poverty, food insecurity, and unequal access to basic services. This study examined the association between rural electrification, household food insecurity, and child malnutrition across the municipalities of La Guajira during 2023. A quantitative, cross-sectional design was employed using microdata from the 2023 National Quality of Life Survey (ECV, by its Spanish acronym) and administrative records from the Public Health Surveillance System (SIVIGILA, by its Spanish acronym). Descriptive spatial analysis was conducted to identify territorial patterns, while beta regression and municipal-level ordinary least squares regression models were estimated to examine associations between electricity access, food insecurity, and child malnutrition. Marked territorial disparities in access to electricity and other basic services were observed across municipalities. Refrigerator ownership was significantly associated with a lower probability of moderate and severe food insecurity. Electricity access alone did not explain differences in household food insecurity; rather, more favorable outcomes were observed when electricity was accompanied by household assets that support food preservation. At the municipal level, higher electricity coverage was associated with lower reported levels of child malnutrition. The findings suggest that the contribution of rural electrification to food security and child nutrition depends on the availability of complementary household assets and services. Policies aimed at reducing food insecurity and child malnutrition in La Guajira should therefore integrate electrification with broader interventions that strengthen household living conditions and food preservation capacity.