[Food insecurity perception in families with elderly in Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil].
The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of food insecurity (FI) in families with elderly members and to describe their socio-demographic profile. The study focused on families with members aged 65 years or more (n = 195) participating in a household survey in Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil, in 2003. The Brazilian Food Insecurity Scale, an adaptation of the USDA FI module, was used to diagnose food security/insecurity (FS/FI). Mild FI was present in 33.0% of families, moderate in 11.8%, and severe in 7.2%. The elderly had no income in < 5.0% of the families. Families with FI, as in the United States, had a greater proportion of elderly with low income and low level of education (no schooling or incomplete primary schooling). A significantly higher proportion of daily qualitative food intake was observed in FS families (vegetables 92.3 vs. 61.8%; OR = 7.4; 95%CI: 2.9-19.6; meat 74.2 vs. 43.1%; OR = 3.8; 95%CI: 1.9-7.3; fruit 77.4 vs. 49.0%; OR = 3.6; 95%CI: 1.8-6.9). The elderly contribute to family income and thus do not pose a burden to their families.
Marín-León
Leticia
L
Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, Brazil. leticia@fcm.unicamp.br
Segal-Corrêa
Ana Maria
AM
Panigassi
Giseli
G
Maranha
Lucia K
LK
Sampaio
Maria de Fátima A
Mde F
Pérez-Escamilla
Rafael
R
D000368:Aged; D001938:Brazil; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004435:Eating; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D005523:Food Supply / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D008297:Male; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D010465:Perception; D015995:Prevalence; D012923:Social Class