Food insecurity and social inequalities in households headed by older people in Brazil: a secondary cross-sectional analysis of a national survey.

Background: The older population in Brazil is associated with the presence of food security. However, there is evidence that some food insecurity persistence in households headed by older people, especially at the most severe levels, and has a possible relationship with social inequality. The objective of this study was to analyze the prevalence and factors associated with moderate/severe food insecurity in households headed by older people. Methods: : A cross-sectional study based on a national representation of older adults aged ≥ 60 years was conducted using data from the 2017/2018 Family Budget Survey. In the study, moderate/severe food insecurity was the dependent variable, with food insecurity measured using the Brazilian Food Insecurity Scale. Prevalence and odds ratio estimates were generated with 99% confidence intervals. Data analysis was performed using STATA software. Findings: A total of 16,314 households headed by older people were identified. Approximately 10.2% of these households were in the moderate/severe range for food insecurity, with most headed by older people, primarily female (11.9%), self-declared indigenous people (25.5%), lack of schooling (18.3%) and with a per capita income of up to 1/2 minimum wage (29.6%). The analysis model found that color/race, region, schooling, per capita household income, and social benefits received in the household were statistically significant factors (p value <0.01). Conclusion: Moderate/severe food insecurity in households headed by older people is associated with the marked social inequalities present in Brazil. Intensifying the need for a different view of this age group.