Abstract

BERNAL, Jennifer  and  LORENZANA, Paulina A. Predictores de la diversidad alimentaria en cinco regiones de Venezuela.. INCI [online]. 2005, vol.30, n.11, pp.706-710. ISSN 0378-1844.

The purpose of this study is to determine possible predictors of household food diversity among beneficiaries of government subsidized day care centers in poor communities located in five regions of Venezuela. Food diversity score is the number of primary foods available to the household during a specified period. Four hundred sixty four households were selected from 232 centers located in the five regions. The list-recall method was used to estimate household food diversity. On average, household food diversity score was 26 ±9 but highly variable among regions (p£0.001). Food cost per month, female schooling, household food security level and household size predicts 20% of variation of the variable food diversity score. In this study, greater food diversity is associated with households that spend more money on food, better educated householders, more food-secure households and more numerous family members. Knowledge of these factors contributes to a better understanding of household food demand determinants and aspects of behavior within the home that may be associated with food quality.

Keywords : Alimentación; Diversidad Alimentaria; Nutrición; Seguridad Alimentaria en el Hogar; Venezuela.