Food Security Monitoring across Primary Health Care Units (UBS) of Brazil
1
Public Health School, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):A3846
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION:
Food and Nutritional Security (SAN) remains a structural challenge in Brazil1-4. Approximately 49.0% of households (104.2 million people) experience some degree of Food and Nutritional Insecurity (IAN), with 9.9% facing hunger, while marked socio-spatial disparities persist1,4. In 2023, the Food Insecurity Risk Screening (TRIA) tool was developed for monitoring IAN within Primary Health Care (PHC). Its purpose is to identify and direct care to at-risk populations5. This descriptive study aimed to analyze the distribution of TRIA implementation across Primary Health Care Units (UBS) of Brazil's Unified Health System (SUS).
METHODS:
This study analyzed data from the National Census of SUS Primary Health Care Units (2024), which achieved complete coverage of all 44938 Brazilian UBS6. Units implementing TRIA were identified, and data were analyzed according to macro-region, location, and provision of care to traditional populations. Proportions of TRIA application were calculated and presented in contingency tables. Pearson's chi-square test was applied (p < 0.001). All analyses were performed using PSPP software.
RESULTS:
The results indicate that only 15.8% of UBS reported using TRIA. Regional analysis revealed heterogeneous distribution. The North Region, characterized by forested areas, significant proportion of traditional riverine populations, and a lower Human Development Index (HDI)7, showed the highest adoption rate (19.8%). This was followed by the Northeast (16.7%), Southeast (16.1%), Central-West (12.4%), and South (11.9%) Regions. The South and Southeast regions feature higher urbanization rates and HDI7. Regarding location context, the tool was used more frequently by urban UBS (16.3%) compared to rural (15.0%) and riverine (10.5%) units. Among UBS that reported serving traditional populations, the utilization rate was 14.7%.
CONCLUSIONS:
Health surveillance constitutes a fundamental component of the collective approach to the health-disease-care process. The findings demonstrate that the incorporation of TRIA remains incipient nationwide, representing a challenge to monitor and address IAN within the SUS.
Food and Nutritional Security (SAN) remains a structural challenge in Brazil1-4. Approximately 49.0% of households (104.2 million people) experience some degree of Food and Nutritional Insecurity (IAN), with 9.9% facing hunger, while marked socio-spatial disparities persist1,4. In 2023, the Food Insecurity Risk Screening (TRIA) tool was developed for monitoring IAN within Primary Health Care (PHC). Its purpose is to identify and direct care to at-risk populations5. This descriptive study aimed to analyze the distribution of TRIA implementation across Primary Health Care Units (UBS) of Brazil's Unified Health System (SUS).
METHODS:
This study analyzed data from the National Census of SUS Primary Health Care Units (2024), which achieved complete coverage of all 44938 Brazilian UBS6. Units implementing TRIA were identified, and data were analyzed according to macro-region, location, and provision of care to traditional populations. Proportions of TRIA application were calculated and presented in contingency tables. Pearson's chi-square test was applied (p < 0.001). All analyses were performed using PSPP software.
RESULTS:
The results indicate that only 15.8% of UBS reported using TRIA. Regional analysis revealed heterogeneous distribution. The North Region, characterized by forested areas, significant proportion of traditional riverine populations, and a lower Human Development Index (HDI)7, showed the highest adoption rate (19.8%). This was followed by the Northeast (16.7%), Southeast (16.1%), Central-West (12.4%), and South (11.9%) Regions. The South and Southeast regions feature higher urbanization rates and HDI7. Regarding location context, the tool was used more frequently by urban UBS (16.3%) compared to rural (15.0%) and riverine (10.5%) units. Among UBS that reported serving traditional populations, the utilization rate was 14.7%.
CONCLUSIONS:
Health surveillance constitutes a fundamental component of the collective approach to the health-disease-care process. The findings demonstrate that the incorporation of TRIA remains incipient nationwide, representing a challenge to monitor and address IAN within the SUS.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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