Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on food insecurity in El Salvador during 2020
Rev Panam Salud Publica
; 46, dic. 2022
Article
em En
| PAHOIRIS
| ID: phr-56840
Biblioteca responsável:
US1.1
ABSTRACT
[ABSTRACT]. bjective. This study sought to quantify the prevalence of food insecurity among Salvadorian households, to identify the determinants of food insecurity and to explore the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on food insecurity. Methods. A nationwide, representative random sample of 2358 households was used for this cross-sectional study. The Household Hunger Scale (HHS) was used to assess the prevalence of food insecurity during a 30-day period. For comparison, three items were used from the Household Food Insecurity Experience Scale (HFIES), which measures hunger occurring during a 12-month time frame. For determinant analysis, binary logistic regression was used for the HHS and ordered logistic regression for the HFIES. Results. The prevalence of food insecurity was 6.45% (152/2356) among Salvadorian households when the HHS was used, affecting 5.48% (129/2356) to a moderate degree and 0.98% (23/2356) to a severe degree. The prevalence significantly increased when the HFIES scale items were used, with 35.41% (835/2358) of house- holds being affected, a figure closer to the national poverty level. Determinants of food insecurity according to the HHS included agricultural problems (P = 0.00, odds ratio [OR] =1.69), the household’s prepandemic income (P = 0.00, OR = 0.48) and higher educational levels (i.e. having a secondary education [P = 0.00, OR = 0.31], technical [P = 0.03, OR = 0.24] or university education [P = 0.00, OR = 0.05]). When using the HFIES, the determinants were similar (i.e. income, agricultural problems, educational level). In more than 94% (744/785) of households, participants reported that food insecurity was exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Conclusions. When compared with other relevant international studies, the prevalence of food insecurity identified using the HHS – only 6.45% – was low for El Salvador. However, when using the HFIES scale, the prevalence rose to 35.41% of households. Some determinants align with previous studies, namely income, educational level and agricultural problems. The COVID-19 pandemic appeared to have direct effects on food insecurity
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
04-international_org
Base de dados:
PAHOIRIS
Assunto principal:
América Central
/
Prevalência
/
Análise de Regressão
/
Ingestão de Alimentos
Tipo de estudo:
Clinical_trials
/
Diagnostic_studies
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Observational_studies
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Prevalence_studies
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Risk_factors_studies
Aspecto:
Determinantes_sociais_saude
País/Região como assunto:
America central
/
El salvador
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2022
Tipo de documento:
Article