Food Security and Nutritional Status of Beneficiary Families from the Selection System for Colombian Social Programs in the Municipality of Sitionuevo, Magdalena

• Published in: Advance Journal of Food Science and Technology 2018-11, Vol.16 (S), p.62-66
• Main Authors: Esperanza, Florez F., Zuleima, Navarro L.G., J.P., Espitia Paula
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 2042-4876; 2042-4868; 2042-4876
• DOI: 10.19026/ajfst.16.5938

This study aimed to measure the level of food security and its relationship with the nutritional status of 82 families which belong to the Selection System for Colombian Social Programs (SISBEN 1) from Sitionuevo (Magdalena, Colombia). A descriptive cross-sectional study with simple random sampling was used to study sociodemographic, economic, nutritional status and food security variables. A questionnaire for the sociodemographic variables and the Latin American and Caribbean Scale of Food Safety (ELCSA) validated with a pilot test was used as an instrument for data collection. The results showed food insecurity level (97.6%) and overweight (obesity) in household members, which may be due to the acquisition of more low-cost foods with high energy density by the participants. These results constitute part of the baseline for the diagnosis of food security, which is necessary to carry out in Sitionuevo. This will allow identifying the real issues related to the five aspects of food security, in order to improve the quality of life of the community, combined with the empowerment of the territorial entity and decision-making strategies for the implementation of improvement plans.