The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #56222

Lucia Lynn Kaiser, PhD, RD¹, Enriqueta Valdez Curiel, MD, MS², Hugo Melgar Quiñonez, MD PhD¹, and Ana Claudia Zubieta, PhD¹. (1) Nutrition, University of California at Davis, One Shield Ave., Davis, CA 95616, (530) 754-9063, llkaiser@ucdavis.edu, (2) School of Medicine, University of Guadalajara, CUSUR, Prolongacion Colon S/N Km. 1, Ciudad Guzman, Mexico

About 10 years ago, the Sierra de Manantlán reserve was established in Jalisco, Mexico to protect the flora and fauna in an ecologically-sensitive region, yet little is known about the well-being of families living in small, isolated communities of the reserve. Therefore, this research was conducted to develop a valid, easily-administered instrument for monitoring household food insecurity in this region. A survey was conducted among all households with preschool children (n=107) in 10 communities within the reserve. Based on findings from focus groups, wording of the 18-item U.S. food insecurity tool was modified to fit the Mexican context. Other data included household composition, household assets, housing characteristics, education, and a self-reported inventory of food supplies. The pattern of response to the 18 food security items in the Mexican population was similar to that previously reported for a Latino immigrant population in California, but the magnitude of food insecurity was much greater in Mexico. Only 2.8% reported being food secure, whereas 44% reported mild food insecurity, 33% reported moderate hunger, and 19.7% reported severe hunger. Greater food insecurity was significantly correlated with lower total food supplies (r= -0.27**), animal source foods (r= -0.23**), dairy products (r= -0.19*), processed foods (r= -0.31**), and refined sugar products (r= -0.27**), *p <0.05, **p < 0.01. Socioeconomic indicators, including education and housing characteristics, were not correlated with food supplies. In conclusion, a modified 18-item tool may be useful to public health in monitoring food insecurity and hunger in rural Mexico. Funded by UC MEXUS

Learning Objectives:

Objectives:
• Describe the health implications of food insecurity in the Sierra de Manantlán reserve
• Identify strategies to improve food security of households living in an ecologically-sensitive region
• Assess level of food insecurity in other Latino populations using validated tools

Keywords: Food Security, Latinos

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.