Perceptions of the neighbourhood food environment and food insecurity of families with children during the Covid-19 pandemic

• Published in: BMC public health 2024-11, Vol.24 (1), p.3032-9, Article 3032
• Main Authors: Justiniano, Irene Carolina Sousa, Cordeiro, Matheus Santos, Coletro, Hillary Nascimento, Meireles, Adriana Lúcia, de Deus Mendonça, Raquel, de Menezes, Mariana Carvalho
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Availability; Brazil; Brazil - epidemiology; Child; Child, Preschool; COVID-19; COVID-19 - epidemiology; COVID-19 - psychology; Cross-Sectional Studies; Epidemics; Family income; Fast Foods - statistics & numerical data; Female; Food availability; Food consumption; Food environment; Food Insecurity; Food processing; Food quality; Food security; Food supply; Food Supply - statistics & numerical data; Forecasts and trends; Fruit; Fruits; Fruits and vegetables; Health promotion; Households; Humans; Infant; Influence; Male; Middle Aged; Pandemics; Perception; Processed foods; Public health; Public opinion; Residence Characteristics - statistics & numerical data; Social protection; Students; Ultra-processed foods; Vegetables
• ISSN: 1471-2458; 1471-2458
• DOI: 10.1186/s12889-024-20523-8

Changes to the food environment during the Covid-19 pandemic significantly influenced food acquisition and consumption, contributing to a higher prevalence of food insecurity. We assessed the perception of the food environment and its association with food insecurity in households of Brazilian schoolchildren during the Covid-19 pandemic. We conducted a cross-sectional telephone survey between March and May 2021 with adults (n = 475) responsible for purchasing and/or preparing food at the students' homes aged between 6 months and 17 years enrolled in public school from two Brazilian municipalities. We assessed outcomes using the Brazilian Food Insecurity Scale (EBIA). We measured perceptions of the food environment by evaluating the perceived availability, price, and quality of fruits and vegetables (FV) and ultra-processed foods (UPF) sold in the neighbourhood. The results indicate that 55.1% of respondents experienced mild food insecurity, and 14.5% experienced moderate or severe food insecurity. The perception of the ease of purchase (8.5% vs. 64.2%) and variety (78.9% vs. 57.9%) of UPF was higher at all levels of food security and insecurity compared to the same questions on FV. The level of food insecurity was associated with the perceived price of FV (p