Environmental Racism, Food Insecurity, and Dietary Practices among Quilombola Mothers in Coastal Brazil
1
Departament of Nutrition, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, Brazil
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):A1306
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Quilombola communities are formed by people with shared histories linked to Black ancestry and collective territories shaped by the transition from enslavement to free rural life.1,2 These communities face persistent food insecurity driven by structural inequalities, territorial threats, and environmental racism. In coastal and urban-adjacent settings, environmental degradation and climate-related changes further disrupt food systems, water access, and livelihoods.3,4 This study examines the dietary practices of quilombola mothers living with severe food insecurity in a context of environmental racism.
METHODS:
We conducted a descriptive, exploratory qualitative study in the quilombola community of Praia Grande, on Ilha de Maré, Salvador, Brazil. Fourteen women from households classified as experiencing severe food insecurity participated. Data was generated through semi-structured interviews and analysed using thematic content analysis,5 focusing on how environmental determinants shape food-related experiences and care practices.
RESULTS:
Four themes emerged: dietary practices; environment and health; water and food insecurity; and coping strategies. Women described how pollution, environmental degradation, and changing environmental conditions disrupted fishing, food cultivation, and income generation, limiting access to fresh and culturally meaningful foods. Water insecurity affected food preparation, storage, and hygiene, increasing health risks. As a result, participants reported greater reliance on purchased and ultra-processed foods, alongside emotional distress related to their responsibility for feeding their families. These findings show how environmental racism shapes everyday food choices and health risks, linking environmental change to nutritional, mental health, and urban health inequalities.
CONCLUSIONS:
Quilombola mothers actively manage food provision under conditions shaped by environmental racism and climate-related pressures. Addressing food insecurity in these communities requires public health approaches that recognise the connections between environmental degradation, food and water access, and health, as well as locally grounded strategies for resilience that incorporate perspectives of environmental justice and racial equity.
Quilombola communities are formed by people with shared histories linked to Black ancestry and collective territories shaped by the transition from enslavement to free rural life.1,2 These communities face persistent food insecurity driven by structural inequalities, territorial threats, and environmental racism. In coastal and urban-adjacent settings, environmental degradation and climate-related changes further disrupt food systems, water access, and livelihoods.3,4 This study examines the dietary practices of quilombola mothers living with severe food insecurity in a context of environmental racism.
METHODS:
We conducted a descriptive, exploratory qualitative study in the quilombola community of Praia Grande, on Ilha de Maré, Salvador, Brazil. Fourteen women from households classified as experiencing severe food insecurity participated. Data was generated through semi-structured interviews and analysed using thematic content analysis,5 focusing on how environmental determinants shape food-related experiences and care practices.
RESULTS:
Four themes emerged: dietary practices; environment and health; water and food insecurity; and coping strategies. Women described how pollution, environmental degradation, and changing environmental conditions disrupted fishing, food cultivation, and income generation, limiting access to fresh and culturally meaningful foods. Water insecurity affected food preparation, storage, and hygiene, increasing health risks. As a result, participants reported greater reliance on purchased and ultra-processed foods, alongside emotional distress related to their responsibility for feeding their families. These findings show how environmental racism shapes everyday food choices and health risks, linking environmental change to nutritional, mental health, and urban health inequalities.
CONCLUSIONS:
Quilombola mothers actively manage food provision under conditions shaped by environmental racism and climate-related pressures. Addressing food insecurity in these communities requires public health approaches that recognise the connections between environmental degradation, food and water access, and health, as well as locally grounded strategies for resilience that incorporate perspectives of environmental justice and racial equity.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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