Clustering of food poverty among Mexican children: A spatial analysis

Abstract

The aim of this study is to find out in which Mexican localities clusters of food poverty have formed in children, a problem that must be urgently addressed to improve the future of those individuals who suffer from it. This phenomenon has irreversible physical and cognitive repercussions. The idea that socio-economic conditions can be improved through the reduction of hunger is supported, and the tool to favour children is the implementation of targeted programmes in specific areas where this phenomenon has formed clusters and therefore requires more attention.In order to find food poverty clusters among Mexican children, the local indicators of spatial association (LISA) method is used mainly for the purpose of identifying regions where hunger has formed clusters.The results show that children living in the south of the country belong to the poorest population and food poverty clusters have formed in this area. It is concluded that even though current legislation favours the eradication of child poverty, no direct actions have been implemented to benefit children, which is why targeted programmes should be implemented in these areas to achieve this objective.