Socioeconomic and Food Security Aspects in Highly Marginalized Communities Belonging to Oaxaca, Mexico

Abstract

Introduction. The increase in the human population, over the last few decades, has created inequality, leading to an increase in food insecurity (FI). And the Oaxaca State, in Mexico, is not the exception. Objective. Analyze the socio-economic and food security aspects in rural, indigenous and peasant communities: Coatecas Altas (Cabecera) and La Escalera (Ejutla de Crespo), Oaxaca. Methodology. Descriptive correlational crosssectional study. The sample size was constituted by 122 households, selecting 61 from each community. A sociodemographic evaluation, and an analysis of food safety was carried out using the Latin American and Caribbean Food Security Scale (ELCSA) and dietetics with a Food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Statistical analysis was performed through Xi2 and Spearman correlation. Results. 81.1% of families were supported by PROSPERA program. According to ELCSA, 51.6% of the 122 families had mild FI, 43.4% moderate and 5.0% severe. The FCA showed that chicken meat and bean was mostly consumed, while the consumption of fruits and vegetables only once or twice per week. The Xi2 test (0.000) showed that there is no association between FI and schooling in communities. Spearman’s correlation (p=188), confirmed that in both communities FI is independent of the schooling of the inhabitants. Discussion. Despite the existence of government programs that have looking formitigate the FI problem, it still persists. The absence of correlation between the academic level and FI in the communities studied indicates that other variables are required for clear identification of AI causes. Conclusions. Food insecurity and marginalization in the communities of Coatecas Altas and La Escalera are a relevant problem by the number of households in this situation. Finally, this research opening up a picture of reality in areas where AI and marginalization exists, helping to generate alternative intervention. These interventions should be co-written with the community.