OBJECTIVE: This study analyzed the rate of food insecurity among recipients of government assistance and other factors associated with their conditions. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 421 families from the municipality of Toledo, Paraná State, receiving government assistance. Data was collected from September/2006 to February/2007 during home interviews using the Brazilian Food Insecurity Scale, Economic Classification Questionnaires and other sociodemographic indicators. Variables were analyzed by the chi-square test, odds ratio and multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: Most (74.6%) of the households experienced moderate (23.8%) to severe (5.9%) food insecurity. According to the chi-square test, the independent variables associated with food insecurity were per capita income, socioeconomic classes D or E, family members under 18, 7 or more people living in the household, low education level and head of family unemployed or doing informal work. According to multivariate logistic regression and considering mild food insecurity a dependent variable, the variables that remained associated with moderate and severe food insecurity were socioeconomic classes D or E (OR=2.88), 5 to 6 people living in the household (OR=2.90) or 7 or more (OR=3.05), and head of family unemployed or doing informal work (OR=1.87). CONCLUSION: The extreme social vulnerability of recipients of government assistance explains the high rate (74.6%) of food insecurity in this population. The results of this study suggest the need of job creation programs.
Hunger; Poverty; Nutrition programs and policies; Food security
