Prevalence of food insecurity and associated factors in households covered by the Family Health Strategy in Teresina-PI,

Objective: to analyze food insecurity prevalence and associated factors with socioeconomic and demographic factors among families assisted by the Family Health Strategy in Teresina-PI, Brazil. Methods: this was a cross-sectional study conducted in 2012-2013, with 323 families, whose heads answered the questionnaires. Results: the prevalence of low food insecurity was 35.6% low, 16.1% moderate and 13.3% severe; association was found with (i) low food insecurity and masonry-built houses (OR=0.57; 95%CI=0.32;0.99); (ii) moderate food insecurity and lower per capita income (OR=6.17; 95%CI=1.79;21.21), masonry-built house (OR=0.34; 95%CI=0.16;0.72) and the father not being the household head (OR=0.027; 95%CI=0.09;0.81); and (iii) severe food insecurity and lower per capita income (OR=3.52; 95%CI=1.02;12.74), household with greater number of rooms (OR=3.65; 95%CI=1.31;10.15), the father not being the household head (OR=0.19; 95%CI=0.06;0.57) and being a beneficiary of the income transfer Programme (OR=4.10; 95%CI=1.13; 14.90). Conclusion: food insecurity prevalence was high and showed association with socioeconomic and demographic factors.