Relationship of Food Groups Intake and a Social Inclusion and Welfare Strategy among Mexican Beneficiaries Younger than 5 Years Old

Teresa Shamah Levy,Mauricio Hernandez Avila,Erika Mayorga Borbolla,Veronica Mundo Rosas,Brenda Martinez Tapia,Ignacio Mendez Gomez-Humaran

doi:10.35248/2155-9600.19.9.762

Abstract

Introduction: A social inclusion and welfare strategy focused on the population living in poverty conditions and without food access was implemented during 2014 in Mexico. Objective: Assess the association of the participation in the social inclusion and welfare strategy and food insecurity condition with differences in food groups’ intake among children younger than five years of age. Methods: Comparative study of children under five years of age, including beneficiaries and no beneficiaries from a social inclusion and welfare strategy and two study periods (2014 and 2015). Multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) was used to assess the association of the intervention group, study period and food insecurity classification (FI), with the consumption of food groups. Classification and Regression Tree (CART) analysis was used to establish classification criteria for food group intake, FI and socioeconomic index. Results: Belonging to the second study period and being beneficiary from the social inclusion and welfare strategy were associated with increased consumption levels of meat, sugary drinks, fruits and vegetables; the consumption of these foods increased with food security. Conclusion: The social inclusion and welfare strategy had a significant positive effect on the diet of the beneficiary population. Nevertheless, it is necessary to encourage efficient public policies that guarantee food and nutrition security in Mexico.

Highlights

A social inclusion and welfare strategy focused on the population living in poverty conditions and without food access was implemented during 2014 in Mexico
Many of them have been directed towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), number 2, Hunger Zero, which is intended to end hunger, achieve security and improve nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture before 2030, demanding that the countries develop public policies that contribute to the improvement of the food systems so they would be able to provide food for the entire population in a sustainable way
The socio-demographic characteristics of the preschools households included in the analysis were compared between both comparison groups and study periods (2014 and 2015)

Summary

Introduction

A social inclusion and welfare strategy focused on the population living in poverty conditions and without food access was implemented during 2014 in Mexico. Such is the case of Brazil, where the government has implemented since 2003 the Bolsa Familia Program which is based on monetary transfers with the objective of benefiting families with children and adolescents from 0 to 17 years old living in poverty and extreme poverty [2] Another case is Mexico, where has increased their efforts to address problems of food insecurity among low income populations, and has gathered plenty information that supports the efficacy and effectiveness of food assistance programs and supplemental nutrition programs on the reduction of anaemia and low height in the vulnerable population [3,4]. These initiatives are currently facing new challenges related to consumers’

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Discussion

Conclusion