Water insecurity may exacerbate food insecurity even in water-rich environments: Evidence from the Bolivian Amazon

• Published in: The Science of the total environment 2024-12, Vol.954, p.176705, Article 176705
• Main Authors: Broyles, Lauren M.T., Huanca, Tomas, Conde, Esther, Rosinger, Asher Y.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Amazon; Bolivia; Drinking Water; Family Characteristics; Food Insecurity; Food security; Food Supply - statistics & numerical data; Humans; Rural Population; Water access; Water Insecurity; Water Quality; Water security; Water Supply - statistics & numerical data
• ISSN: 0048-9697; 1879-1026; 1879-1026
• DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.176705

Globally, challenges with water and food are two of the most pressing problems people face. Yet hydrologically water-rich environments and rural environments are often overlooked in these discussions due to abundance of natural water resources. Here we test the relationship between water and food insecurity among 270 Tsimane' households in the Bolivian Amazon. Water challenges were evaluated with the Household Water Insecurity Experiences Scale (HWISE), water quality perception, objective water quality analyses, and water access via the JMP drinking water ladder. Food insecurity was measured with the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS), and quantitative measures of food frequency recall were used to further test the water and food insecurity relationship. Using multilevel mixed-effects linear regression, each point increase in HWISE score was associated with 0.47 point (95 % CI: 0.30, 0.62, p