Insegurança alimentar e práticas alimentares durante pandemia de COVID-19 em domicílios do Sul de Minas Gerais

Abstract

Adequate access to food from a nutritional, sanitary and economic point of view is related to Food and Nutritional Security (FNS) and the Human Right to Adequate Food and Nutrition (HRAFN). The COVID-19 pandemic puts all these aspects on alert, since, in addition to health, it has generated economic and social impacts. Understanding that these aspects, as well as biological, psychological, and cultural aspects, among others, are directly involved in food, it is hypothesized population's eating habits may have been altered by the COVID-19 pandemic, or by the decrease in access food, especially in natura, price increases and even food shortages, in addition to changes in eating habits and behavior. Another aspect involves the feeding of students and family members assisted by the National School Feeding Program (PNAE) during the pandemic. The federal government drafted Resolution No. 02, of April 9, 2020, aiming to help in the guarantee of the FNS through food kits, but the question remains whether this measure is being effective. Considering these aspects, this proposal aimed to (i) assess the Food Insecurity (AI) of the families of schoolchildren, enrolled in public education, aged from 5 to 11 years in some cities in the South of Minas; (ii) assess cooking skills of mothers and fathers or guardians of schoolchildren; (iii) identify possible changes in dietary practices due to the pandemic. The study was conducted through a questionnaire containing socioeconomic, food practices and cooking skills issues, in addition to the Brazilian Food Insecurity Scale (EBIA), which was sent in digital format (e-mail or messaging app). Of the 3222 people who received the invitation along with the material, 324 participated and completed filling out the questionnaires. Results indicated high degree of FI in the sample. The habit of eating unhealthy processed foods such as sweets and sugary drinks was observed, although no significant changes were identified in the eating habits of the families evaluated due to the pandemic. It was also noted the practice of sharing meals and high confidence in performing cooking techniques. Those receiving feeding kits were not significantly related to the issues associated with EBIA. Therefore, it is concluded that the receipt of the kits did not impact the FI situation, being ineffective in the FNS guarantee. Although eating practices were not changed by the COVID-19 pandemic in the studied sample, the high level of FI found, together with the high frequency of consumption of unhealthy processed foods are alarming factors, reinforcing the need to develop Food Education and Nutrition to promote greater awareness of the importance of healthy and sustainable food practices by the population, along with public policies that ensure FNS and HRAFN.