Food Insecurity and Consumption in the Town of Princesa Isabel - Paraíba - Brazil

Abstract

SUMMARY Objective: Evaluate the family’s food insecurity and relate it with the characteristics of food consumption of these families with the purpose of looking for feasible alternatives to overcome the hunger problem. Material and Methods: A structured questionnaire was applied by a properly trained interviewer, preferably to the head of the selected family. Results: More than 36% of the families declared that in the last three months there had been a decrease in the amount of food offered to the children, 20,2%, admitted that the child had skipped one of the meals, for lack of food. From the families that decreased the children’s amount of food, the cereals were affected by more than 30% of the families, followed by leguminous plants, tubercles, milk and eggs, just 10% of them decreased the consumption of meat. In the town of Princesa Isabel, good dwelling conditions were observed, although some families were already living under very unfavorable conditions. Conclusion: It is necessary to explain to the rulers, heads of the families and their children the appropriate consumption of nutrients and influence in the intellectual performance and growth, as well as the inclusion of new social policies focused on the generation of income and better conditions of health, work and home for the whole population. DESCRIPTORS Food and Nutrition Security. Food intake. Evaluation