Dimensões da escala brasileira de insegurança alimentar na atenção primária à saúde

Abstract

Objective: The aim of the current study is to analyze the relevance of dimensions of the Brazilian Food Insecurity Scale (EBIA). Methods: Baseline study conducted with sample representative of Health Academy Program (HAP) users in Belo Horizonte – MG. Food insecurity was measured based on EBIA. Factor analysis was used to identify EBIA dimensions relevant to HAP users. Results: There was high prevalence of food insecurity (31.1%), mainly among families with members younger than 18 years (41.0%). Affirmative response rates have decreased depending on the food insecurity severity level involved in the question. Items associated with mild food insecurity (concerned with and access to healthy food) recorded higher affirmative response rates, whereas items associated with severe food insecurity (hunger and weight loss) recorded lower rates. Three relevant EBIA factors were identified for family members younger than 18 years, namely: concern, deprivation and children / adolescents, whereas relevant EBIA factors identified for other family members comprised concern, deprivation and hunger. Conclusion: EBIA should be used in Primary Care in order to assess the risk of food insecurity and the design of more comprehensive health promotion actions.