Análise da segurança alimentar e fatores associados na comunidade remanescente quilombola de Cocalinho – TO

Abstract

Understanding food and nutritional security, coupled with population development theories, allows us to recognize the determinants of the quality of life of vulnerable populations and to ensure tools in the fight for social well-being, and this understanding can contribute to the transformation of realities where these populations are inserted. The objective of this study was to elucidate the conditions of (food) insecurity and factors associated with it in a quilombo community, the community of Cocalinho, in Santa Fe do Araguaia/TO. This population carries with it the vulnerabilities acquired in its historical process, since they are people who bear an economic and social heritage from the period of slavery, exclusion and marginalization. In this sense, the study sought to discuss the results in parallel with the idea of deprivation of liberty proposed by Amartya Sen. The research was of the transversal and analytical type, with quantitative data obtained by EBIA (Brazilian Food Insecurity Scale), QFA (Food Frequency Questionnaire) and anthropometric data, applied to 62 people in the community. Statistical treatment was performed using the SPSS statistical program: IBM: ANOVA, Quiquadrado, simple and multinomial logistic regression. The results showed that: (80.64%) of the participants were female; the mean age was 44.9 years; (67.74%) declared themselves black and the average income was 817.61 reais. However, 24.19% of the participants receive less than one minimum wage, being extratified in classes D (58.6%) and E (41.93%) according to ABEP (Brazilian Association of Companies and Research). Regarding schooling: (43.54%) only attended elementary school and (17.74%) finished higher education. Housing and sanitation conditions were precarious, as there is no sanitary sewage and water, obtained from artesian well, is treated only by chlorine tablets. Regarding food insecurity: the incidence was 58.05%, distributed in the moderate and severe levels of food insecurity; was more frequent among women (72%) and had a significant relationship with income (p = 0.01) and the number of people living at home (p = 0.031). As for eating habits, we observed high carbohydrate intake (43.64%), followed by protein (35.15%) and sugar (14.29%), and low consumption of fruits and vegetables (7.47%). The consumption of processed foods was (34.54%) and non-industrialized (65.45%), but did not present a statistically significant difference (p = 0.387) and (0.557) respectively, indicating that both types of foods are being consumed On the same proportion. The anthropometric assessments showed a prevalence of alterations in BMI (body mass index) and WC (waist circumference) in (86.59%) of the total participants, and with a significant association between the anthropometric data of (χ2 = 33.03 Gl = 1, p = 0.08) for CA and p = (0.03) for BMI. In addition, (63%) of those investigated reported diabetes or hypertension. We conclude that food and nutritional insecurity in the population is associated with socioeconomic conditions, we also perceive problems of overweight and obesity, associated with insecurity, so the prevalence of chronic diseases may be a consequence of inappropriate food habits linked to increased food consumption less traditional in this population, denoting a possible food and epidemiological transition. Finally, these aspects are limiting to the full development in this population, and it is suggested that these should be evaluated longitudinally so that public policies aimed at the traditional quilombola communities can be effective effectively guaranteeing, among other freedoms, the food sovereignty of these groups.