Abstract

BERNAL, Jennifer  and  LORENZANA, Paulina. Predictores de la seguridad alimentaria en hogares de escasos recursos en venezuela: comparación entre región central y andina. INCI [online]. 2003, vol.28, n.1, pp.15-20. ISSN 0378-1844.

Summary Beneficiary satisfaction with the food and nutrition component of a child care social program (MCD) together with other socioeconomic, demographic, and nutritional variables previously shown to predict the household food security (HFS) level of poor households were explored. This is a cross sectional, descriptive, comparative study on a sample of 143 MCDs in the Central and Andean regions of Venezuela. A self-perceived HFS scale and a food and nutrition satisfaction scale previously validated in Venezuelan poor communities were used to measure both variables. A mother and her child were chosen from each MCD. Data gathered using a previously tested questionnaire were analyzed with SPSS version 10. Despite a significant difference in income per capita, food income and food diversity score in favor of the Central region, Andean households were not significantly less secure. More hunger experiences were reported in the Central region. Thus, other resources not tapped in the study, such as home production and barter of food, may have improved food security levels of Andean families. The study validated food income, number of children and food diversity score as predictors of HFS. Data suggest that food received by children at the MCD may uplift HFS level. These variables explain 32.5% of HFS´s variation in the sample. Evaluation of social programs with a food and nutrition component should aim to capture the effect on HFS of less privileged homes. The positive effect of these programs may be undervalued

Keywords : Diversidad Alimentaria; Seguridad Alimentaria; Venezuela.