Food Insecurity Increases in Brazil from 2004 to 2018: Analysis of national surveys

Abstract

Objective: Describe secular changes in food security (FS) and severe food insecurity (FI) in Brazil. Design: We analyzed four national surveys that assessed FI with the Brazilian Household Food Insecurity Measurement Scale (EBIA), and estimated the percentage changes of FS/FI levels between 2004 and 2013 (1st period) and between 2013 and 2018 (2nd period) by sociodemographic variables. Setting: Data from the cross-sectional Brazilian National Households Sample Surveys (2004, 2009 and 2013) and Household Budget Survey (2018). Participants: Nationally representative samples of household surveys (2004=112,530; 2009=120,910;2013=116,196; and 2018=57,920). Results: The 1st period was marked by a significant increase in FS (+18.9%) and by a reduction in severe FI (-53.6%). The 2nd period showed a decrease in FS (-18.2%) and an increase of severe FI (+43.8%). The greater increase FS in the 1st period was in the Northeast (+33.4%), among households with more than 7 residents (+40.8%), and in households were the reference person self-identified as black or mulatto (+27.6%). In the 2nd period, the lower increase in severe FI was observed among households with children under 4 years old (+ 6.3%) and with members over 65 years old (+12.5%). Conclusions: After a significant reduction in FS from 2004 to 2013, FS was strongly compromised from 2014 to 2018 likely as result of disruptions in access to foods in all regions, intensified by the sociodemographic inequality in Brazil. Hunger in Brazil has re-emerged as a national concern.

Regional and social inequalities in food insecurity in Brazil, 2013-2018

“…However, the political and economic crisis that started in 2015 changed the economic scenario and resulted in reduced purchasing power and increased unemployment and food prices due to inflation, which influenced food security in Brazilian households 15 and consequently increased hunger 7,10,15 . The assessment of food insecurity shows a violation of the basic right to food and, therefore, is a proxy measure of social inequality.…”