title: Is the Latin American and Caribbean Food Security Scale an Appropriate Instrument for Mexican Urban Older Adults?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Older adults in Mexico are a growing share of the population and are a largely vulnerable group with increased risk of food insecurity and potential detrimental health effects stemming from it.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study assesses the face validity of the Latin American and Caribbean Food Security Scale (ELCSA) among Mexican urban older adults of low socioeconomic status.
  
  
  METHODS
  Qualitative study based on 4 focus groups.
  
  
  METHODS
  The focus groups were conducted in community organizations for the elderly in an area of Mexico City with a high proportion of poverty.
  
  
  METHODS
  The focus groups included a total of 36 older adults aged 65 and over who consented to participate.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two initial focus groups were conducted to assess how older adults understood the food security construct and each of the ELCSA items. Based on these findings, ELCSA was modified and retested for face validity through two additional focus groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The initial focus groups suggested that several of the scale items were not well understood, leading to editorial modifications of the scale. The final focus groups indicated that the modified version of the scale improved substantially ELCSA's face validity in this sample.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The modified ELCSA led to a greater understanding of most scale items. Further qualitative research is needed to improve food insecurity measurements among older adults in Latin America.
authors.affiliation: Mireya Vilar-Compte, Prolongación Paseo de la Reforma 880, Lomas de Santa Fe, Mexico City 01219, Mexico, Telephone +52 (55) 5950-4000 ext 4638, Fax +52 (55) 5950-4254; email: mireya.vilar@ibero.mx.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vilar-Compte
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bernal-Stuart
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Orta-Alemán
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ochoa-Rivera
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pérez-Escamilla