Severe food insecurity in Brazilian municipalities, 2013

Abstract

The scope of this article was to estimate the prevalence of severe food insecurity (SFI) in Brazilian municipalities in 2013. A logistic regression model was used to predict SFI. To construct the model, the 2013 National Household Sample Survey (PNAD) was used. SFI was measured using the Brazilian Food Insecurity Scale (EBIA). The final model was applied to the 2010 Census, predicting the municipal prevalence. The highest prevalence values were concentrated in the North and Northeast of Brazil, which also showed the highest municipality prevalence disparities. The highest municipal prevalence value of SFI was in the state of Maranhão and the lowest in Rio Grande do Sul. Maranhão was also the State with the largest intrastate disparities in the prevalence of SFI. Spatial analysis showed a higher prevalence of SFI in the North and Northeast regions. Acre had 100% of its municipalities presenting a very high prevalence of SFI. By contrast in the State of São Paulo, 59.1% of the municipalities have a low prevalence of SFI. The prevalence of municipal SFI was higher in Brazil’s North and Northeast and there were major disparities in intraregional and intrastate distribution. These prevalence values could assist in improving the targeting of policies to combat food insecurity in Brazil.