Food security and household food expenditure in Guatemala (268.4)

Abstract

In Guatemala malnutrition and food insecurity are highly prevalent. Distinguishing between food security levels can help improve understanding of dietary patterns among specific groups, thus allowing for more effective and specialized designs of food assistance programs. The Escala Latinoamericana y Caribena de Seguridad Alimentaria (ELCSA) is a validated tool that distinguishes food secure households from three food insecurity levels: mild, moderate and severe. The purpose of this study was to assess expenditure on food by food security level in 13,482 Guatemalan households in the 2011 Living Conditions Survey (ENCOVI), in order to identify potential nutritional gaps in the given groups. Information from the 115 items survey section “Expenses and Consumption of Food” and the food security section containing ELCSA was used. Analyses were made regarding food items purchased during the twelve months previous to the survey. One way ANOVA was used to compare mean differences among food security categories on expenditures made for various food groups. Bonferroni post‐hoc analyses were used for multiple comparisons between groups with a confidence level set at 95%. Food secure households had significantly higher expenditures on meats, dairy, fruits, and vegetables when compared to food insecure groups. Severely food insecure households had a higher expenditure on staple grains and sugar, and the proportion of expenditure was significantly higher for starches, sweets, and non‐meat proteins (eggs and beans). As food insecurity level increases, expenditure on boneless beef decreases, while expenditures on chicken interiors increase. Different food consumption by food insecurity level indicates the need for differentiated interventions and programs.