Food and nutritional (IN)Security and its associations with sociodemographic conditions in the Gilson Coelho residential area in Bom Jesus-PI during the Covid-19 pandemic

Abstract

Social isolation was the UN's main recommendation to prevent the COVID-19 respiratory infection, causing serious impacts in the Northeast region of Brazil, such as the closure of businesses, an increase in unemployment and a drop in family income. To minimize the economic effects, the federal government implemented emergency aid, but this was not enough to combat poverty and inequalities during the pandemic. The study carried out at Residencial Gilson Coelho, in Bom Jesus-PI, during the pandemic, analyzed food insecurity and its relationship with sociodemographic characteristics and participation in government income transfer programs. The results showed that 88.7% of family heads were women, 82.9% were black or mixed race and 44.9% had low levels of education. Furthermore, 27% have a family income of less than R$550. Still, 85% of the population lives with some level of food insecurity, with 17.2% of households facing severe food insecurity. The pandemic highlighted the need for effective and agile public policies to tackle the disease, especially in vulnerable groups. Poverty reduction must be approached in a multidimensional way and with measures adapted to the reality of each audience.