An eye for food insecurity and unequal access to public policies and services: a data analysis from a cross-sectional Brazilian study
1
School of Public Health, University of São Paulo, São Paulo - São Paulo, Brazil
2
Ministry of Health, Federal Executive, Federal District - Brasília, Brazil
3
Health Institute, Secretariat of Health of São Paulo, São Paulo - São Paulo, Brazil
4
School of Nursing, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte - Minas Gerais, Brazil
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):A2304
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
This study aimed to identify the association between food insecurity and the unequal access to public policies and services among Brazilian children.
METHODS:
Data were obtained from the cross-sectional PIPAS study (2022)1,2, including caregivers of 13,425 children aged 0-59 months living in 12 Brazilian state capitals and the Federal District. The variable food insecurity (whether the participant had been worried about having no food and no money to afford more in the last 3 months; yes/no) was adapted from the Brazilian Food Insecurity Scale3. Measured by Pearson’s chi-square test, indicators of access to policies and services included antenatal care (<6 / ≥6 consultations), skin-to-skin contact at birth, postpartum home visit, early childhood education attendance, participation in income transfer programs, maternity leave, receipt of information or inquiries about early childhood development (ECD) by health professionals, and caregiver engagement in at least four stimulation activities (all yes/no). Socioeconomic position (quintiles), maternal age, and maternal education (≤8 />8 years) were also analyzed.
RESULTS:
Considering a p-value ≤ 0.015, the results indicate that children living in food-insecure households had lower access to antenatal care (83.6% vs 88.7%), skin-to-skin contact (79.0% vs 83.3%), postpartum home visits (83.4% vs 87.0%), early childhood education (58.3% vs 65.6%), maternity leave (39.7% vs 58.0%), caregiver stimulation activities (73.3% vs 77.8%), professional inquiries (37.3% vs 43.1%) and guidance (52.0% vs 61.8%) on ECD. In contrast, these children were more frequently enrolled in income transfer programs (51.0% vs 25.4%), more concentrated in the lowest socioeconomic quintile (25.5% vs 7.1%), and more likely to have younger and less educated mothers.
CONCLUSIONS:
Food insecurity intersects with socioeconomic vulnerability and unequal access to public policies and services, reinforcing structural inequities in early childhood. Addressing these intersecting disadvantages is essential to inform integrated strategies that promote equitable child development.
This study aimed to identify the association between food insecurity and the unequal access to public policies and services among Brazilian children.
METHODS:
Data were obtained from the cross-sectional PIPAS study (2022)1,2, including caregivers of 13,425 children aged 0-59 months living in 12 Brazilian state capitals and the Federal District. The variable food insecurity (whether the participant had been worried about having no food and no money to afford more in the last 3 months; yes/no) was adapted from the Brazilian Food Insecurity Scale3. Measured by Pearson’s chi-square test, indicators of access to policies and services included antenatal care (<6 / ≥6 consultations), skin-to-skin contact at birth, postpartum home visit, early childhood education attendance, participation in income transfer programs, maternity leave, receipt of information or inquiries about early childhood development (ECD) by health professionals, and caregiver engagement in at least four stimulation activities (all yes/no). Socioeconomic position (quintiles), maternal age, and maternal education (≤8 />8 years) were also analyzed.
RESULTS:
Considering a p-value ≤ 0.015, the results indicate that children living in food-insecure households had lower access to antenatal care (83.6% vs 88.7%), skin-to-skin contact (79.0% vs 83.3%), postpartum home visits (83.4% vs 87.0%), early childhood education (58.3% vs 65.6%), maternity leave (39.7% vs 58.0%), caregiver stimulation activities (73.3% vs 77.8%), professional inquiries (37.3% vs 43.1%) and guidance (52.0% vs 61.8%) on ECD. In contrast, these children were more frequently enrolled in income transfer programs (51.0% vs 25.4%), more concentrated in the lowest socioeconomic quintile (25.5% vs 7.1%), and more likely to have younger and less educated mothers.
CONCLUSIONS:
Food insecurity intersects with socioeconomic vulnerability and unequal access to public policies and services, reinforcing structural inequities in early childhood. Addressing these intersecting disadvantages is essential to inform integrated strategies that promote equitable child development.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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