Food insecurity and social inequalities in households headed by older people in Brazil: a secondary cross-sectional analysis of a national survey.

BACKGROUND: The presence of food insecurity in households headed by older people is related to social inequalities. The objective of this study was to analyze the prevalence and factors associated with moderate/severe food insecurity in households headed by older people. METHODS: A cross-sectional study based on a nationally representative sample of older adults aged ≥ 60 years was conducted using data from the 2017/2018 Family Budget Survey. In the study, moderate/severe food insecurity was the dependent variable, with food insecurity assessed with the Brazilian Household Food Insecurity Measurement Scale. Prevalence and odds ratio estimates were generated with 99% confidence intervals. Data analysis was performed using STATA software. FINDINGS: A total of 16,314 households headed by older people were identified. Approximately 10.1% of these households were in the moderate/severe range for food insecurity. The majority are female (11.9%)and self-declared indigenous people (25.5%), with a lack of schooling (18.3%) and a per capita income of up to half of one minimum wage (29.6%). The analysis model found that color/race, region, schooling, per capita household income, and social benefits received in the household were statistically significant factors (p value < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Moderate/severe food insecurity in households headed by older people is associated with the pronounced social inequalities present in Brazil, and these findings intensify the need for additional study of the challenges faced by this age group.

Food insecurity in households with persons with disabilities in a situation of extreme vulnerability in Brazil: a secondary cross-sectional analysis.

Background: Inequities in access to education, work and health care are striking among persons with disabilities, making this population more vulnerable to poverty, lack of access to basic services and violation of rights such as access to food. Household food insecurity (HFI), marked by precarious income, has increased among persons with disabilities. In Brazil, the Continuous Cash Benefit (In Portuguese, Benefício de Prestação Continuada - BPC) is the guarantee of a minimum wage for persons with disabilities as a measure to promote social security and access to income in a situation of extreme poverty. Thus, the objective of this study was to assess HFI among persons with disabilities in extreme poverty in Brazil. Methods: A cross-sectional study with national representation was carried out with data from the 2017/2018 Family Budget Survey, with moderate and severe food insecurity as the dependent variable, and the situation of food insecurity measured using the Brazilian Food Insecurity Scale. Prevalence and odds ratio estimates were generated with 99% confidence intervals. Findings: Approximately 25% of households experienced HFI, with a higher prevalence in the North Region (41%), receiving up to 1 income quintile (36.6%), with a female (26.2%) and black person (31%) as a reference. The analysis model found that region, per capita household income, and social benefits received in the household were statistically significant factors. Interpretation: The BPC proved to be an important source of household income for persons with disabilities living in extreme poverty in Brazil: in almost three-quarters of the households, it was the only social benefit received, and, for most of them, it represented more than half of the total household income. Funding: This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

Inequalities in food acquisition according to the social profiles of the head of households in Brazil / Desigualdades na aquisição de alimentos de acordo com a renda e os perfis sociais do chefe de família no Brasil

Abstract Brazil is characterized by strong social inequalities and differences in access to quality food and sufficient quantities of it, which represent a violation of the human right to adequate food. The aim was to assess food expenditures according to the social profiles of the head of the households. Data from the cross-sectional Brazilian Household Budget Survey (2017/2018) were used with a nationally representative sample of household survey participants (n=52,917). Poisson regression was used to estimate prevalence ratios (PR) to assess the association of different social profiles with the acquisition of food. The profile characterized by woman self-classified as white, with a higher education, which characteristics were positively and significantly associated with more acquisition of fruits (PR=1.22; CI95% 1.09-1.36) and vegetables and greens (PR=1.24; CI95% 1.09-1.41). Black women with low education levels showed a negative association with the consumption of soda (PR=0.53; CI95% 0.45-0.62), and prepared food (PR=0.52; CI95% 0.37-0.74). The results reveal great inequalities in the purchase of food between the social profiles of the heads of the family.

Resumo O Brasil é caracterizado por fortes desigualdades sociais e diferenças no acesso a alimentos de qualidade e em quantidade suficiente, o que representa uma violação do direito humano à alimentação adequada. O objetivo foi avaliar os gastos com alimentação de acordo com o perfil social do responsável pelo domicílio. Dados da Pesquisa de Orçamentos Familiares Brasileiros de corte transversal (2017/2018) foram usados com uma amostra nacionalmente representativa de participantes da pesquisa domiciliar (n=52.917). A regressão de Poisson foi utilizada para estimar razões de prevalência (RP) para avaliar a associação de diferentes perfis sociais com a aquisição de alimentos. O perfil caracterizado pela mulher auto classificada como branca, com maior escolaridade, cujas características estiveram positiva e significativamente associadas a maior aquisição de frutas (RP=1,22; IC95% 1,09-1,36), verduras e legumes (PR=1,24; IC95% 1,09-1,41) e queijo (RP=1,32; IC95% 1,09-1,59). Mulheres negras com baixa escolaridade apresentaram associação negativa com o consumo de refrigerantes (RP=0,53; IC95% 0,45-0,62) e alimentos preparados (RP=0,52; IC95% 0,37-0,74). Os resultados revelam grandes desigualdades na aquisição de alimentos entre os perfis sociais dos chefes de família.

Inequalities in food acquisition according to the social profiles of the head of households in Brazil.

Brazil is characterized by strong social inequalities and differences in access to quality food and sufficient quantities of it, which represent a violation of the human right to adequate food. The aim was to assess food expenditures according to the social profiles of the head of the households. Data from the cross-sectional Brazilian Household Budget Survey (2017/2018) were used with a nationally representative sample of household survey participants (n=52,917). Poisson regression was used to estimate prevalence ratios (PR) to assess the association of different social profiles with the acquisition of food. The profile characterized by woman self-classified as white, with a higher education, which characteristics were positively and significantly associated with more acquisition of fruits (PR=1.22; CI95% 1.09-1.36) and vegetables and greens (PR=1.24; CI95% 1.09-1.41). Black women with low education levels showed a negative association with the consumption of soda (PR=0.53; CI95% 0.45-0.62), and prepared food (PR=0.52; CI95% 0.37-0.74). The results reveal great inequalities in the purchase of food between the social profiles of the heads of the family.

Social inequalities among Brazilian older adults: a secondary cross-sectional analysis of a national survey / Desigualdades sociais entre idosos brasileiros: análise transversal de uma pesquisa nacional

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate sociodemographic and economic differences among Brazilian older adults according the region they live in. Methods: This cross-sectional, descriptive-analytical study included older adults aged ≥ 60 years, based on a secondary analysis of public data from a nationally representative survey called the Family Budget Survey. The data were disaggregated according to the 5 regions of the country and associated with sociodemographic and economic characteristics. Analyses of categorical and numerical variables and their associations were performed using multinomial logistic regression. Results: Among all participants in the Family Budget Survey, 26 199 (15%) were older adults. The southeast and south regions were found to had better living conditions and higher proportions of older adults. Regarding race, the southern region had the highest proportion of self-declared Whites, the southeastern region had the highest mean education level, and the northern and northeastern regions had the lowest levels of education and household income. Conclusions: The results suggest that the aging process is heterogeneous due to marked regional inequalities, which are related to social issues. Regional differences can be determinant in socioeconomic and demographic inequalities among the older population.

Objetivo: Este estudo teve como objetivo avaliar as diferenças sociodemográficas e econômicas entre idosos brasileiros de acordo com as macrorregiões. Metodologia: Estudo transversal, descritivo-analítico, realizado com indivíduos com ≥ 60 anos de idade, com base na análise secundária de dados públicos de um inquérito nacionalmente representativo denominado Pesquisa de Orçamentos Familiares. Os dados foram separados de acordo com as cinco regiões do País e foram associados a características sociodemográficas e econômicas. Realizaram-se análises de variáveis categóricas e numéricas e de suas associações por meio de regressão logística multinomial. Resultados: Entre todos os participantes da Pesquisa de Orçamentos Familiares, 26.199 (15%) eram idosos. Constatou-se que as regiões Sudeste e Sul apresentaram melhores condições de vida e maiores proporções de idosos. Em relação à raça/cor, a região Sul apresentou a maior proporção de autodeclarados brancos, a região Sudeste apresentou a maior média de escolaridade e as regiões Norte e Nordeste apresentaram os menores níveis de escolaridade e renda familiar. Conclusões: Os resultados sugerem que o processo de envelhecimento é heterogêneo em razão das acentuadas desigualdades regionais, que estão relacionadas a questões sociais. As diferenças regionais podem ser determinantes nas desigualdades socioeconômicas e demográficas entre a população idosa.