title: [Statistical validity of the Mexican Food Security Scale and the Latin American and Caribbean Food Security Scale].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This article validates the statistical consistency of two food security scales: the Mexican Food Security Scale (EMSA) and the Latin American and Caribbean Food Security Scale (ELCSA).
  
  
  METHODS
  Validity tests were conducted in order to verify that both scales were consistent instruments, conformed by independent, properly calibrated and adequately sorted items, arranged in a continuum of severity. The following tests were developed: sorting of items; Cronbach's alpha analysis; parallelism of prevalence curves; Rasch models; sensitivity analysis through mean differences' hypothesis test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The tests showed that both scales meet the required attributes and are robust statistical instruments for food security measurement.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is relevant given that the lack of access to food indicator, included in multidimensional poverty measurement in Mexico, is calculated with EMSA.
authors: Dirección General Adjunta de Análisis de la Pobreza, Consejo Nacional de Evaluación de la Política de Desarrollo Social, México, Distrito Federal, México.
authors: Paloma
authors: P
authors: Villagómez-Ornelas
authors: Dirección General Adjunta de Análisis de la Pobreza, Consejo Nacional de Evaluación de la Política de Desarrollo Social, México, Distrito Federal, México.
authors: Pedro
authors: P
authors: Hernández-López
authors: Brenda
authors: B
authors: Carrasco-Enríquez
authors: Dirección General Adjunta de Análisis de la Pobreza, Consejo Nacional de Evaluación de la Política de Desarrollo Social, México, Distrito Federal, México.
authors: Karina
authors: K
authors: Barrios-Sánchez
authors: Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, Estados Unidos de América.
authors: Rafael
authors: R
authors: Pérez-Escamilla
authors: McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canadá
authors: Hugo
authors: H
authors: Melgar-Quiñónez
mesh_terms: D017691:Caribbean Region; D005523:Food Supply / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006806:Human Rights; D006801:Humans; D007843:Latin America; D008800:Mexico; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards