Book Description

"Background: Food security, health and well-being for all are the second and third Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda set by the United Nations. Although global efforts have resulted in improvements in food security, health and well-being across the world, studies have shown that economic and political crises can rapidly undermine achievements in these areas and prevent countries from reaching both SDGs. However, the literature lacks continuous monitoring of food security, health, and well-being in affected countries; and despite Brazil's food security policies and universal healthcare system are recognized as a model for developing countries, no one has yet investigated the effects of the country's current financial and political crisis on its food security, health, and well-being. Objectives: To fill these gaps, this study aimed to assess the changes in food security status, health, and well-being before and during Brazil's current crisis, as well as to explore their associations with individual, economic, psychosocial and environmental factors. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study based on population-representative data (n= 356,667) from two different sources: the Brazilian National Household Sample Survey and the Gallup World Poll. Household food security status was measured by a shorter version of the Brazilian Food Insecurity Scale, consisting of the first 8 questions of the original scale. Health and well-being were measured by the Personal Life Index and the Life Evaluation Index. Descriptive analyses and logistic regression models were performed to assess the changes in food security, health status, and well-being and to investigate the factors associated with these changes. All tests were performed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), version 23, and evaluated at the 0.05 significance level. Results: There was deterioration in food security and well-being during the crisis. The percentage of households classified as food secure declined by 36% (76% in 2013 to 49% in 2017), severe food insecurity tripled (4% in 2013 to 12% in 2017) and the prevalence of respondents classified as "thriving" declined by almost 30% (63% in 2013 to 44% in 2017). This deterioration of food security status disproportionately affected the poor, increasing by six times the chances of being food insecure among the poorest strata. In addition, those who reported a low job climate, lack of social support and low level of education were twice more likely to be food insecure. Rather than income, health status and well-being were most associated with food insecurity, increased age and lack of social support, followed by the low level of education, poor community environment and dissatisfaction with the healthcare system. Conclusions: Despite its noteworthy social policy framework, during the crisis, Brazil suffered from a great deterioration of food security and well-being. These findings indicate the need for emergency policies, which should focus on strengthening access to food, healthcare, and education, improving community environment (quality of air, water, and infrastructure), and fostering social support." --