Prevalence and factors associated with food insecurity in eight high-altitude cities in Peru during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic: a retrospective, cross-sectional study
Abstract Background Food insecurity has increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, affecting an estimated 260 million people. However, little evidence is available on how pandemic-related characteristics influence food security in a high-altitude population. The objective of this study was to assess fa...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2022-10-01
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| Series: | BMC Public Health |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-022-14372-6 |
| _version_ | 1811257094973685760 |
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| author | J. Pierre Zila-Velasque Pamela Grados-Espinoza Katherine Quispe-Chura Christopher G. Valdiviezo-Morales Cristian Diaz-Vélez Mario J. Valladares-Garrido |
| author_facet | J. Pierre Zila-Velasque Pamela Grados-Espinoza Katherine Quispe-Chura Christopher G. Valdiviezo-Morales Cristian Diaz-Vélez Mario J. Valladares-Garrido |
| author_sort | J. Pierre Zila-Velasque |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Food insecurity has increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, affecting an estimated 260 million people. However, little evidence is available on how pandemic-related characteristics influence food security in a high-altitude population. The objective of this study was to assess factors associated with food insecurity in high-altitude Peruvian cities during the second epidemic wave of COVID-19. Methods A retrospective, cross-sectional study was conducted in eight Peruvian cities over 1,500 m above sea level. An online survey measuring food security, presence of anxiety & depressive symptoms, sleep quality, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), resilience, and sociodemographic characteristics was disseminated through social networks between December 2020 and February 2021. Generalized linear models were used to identify an association between the study variables. Results Of 700 participants, the median age was 23 years, and more than half were female (56.7%). The prevalence of food insecurity was 37.1%. Anxiety symptoms, depressive symptoms, and PTSD were present in 72.7%, 64.1%, and 15% of respondents, respectively. The prevalence of food insecurity was higher in people with fair (PR: 1.60, 95% CI: 1.23–2.07) and very bad perception of their health (PR: 4.06, 95% CI: 2.63–6.26), individuals seeking mental health support (PR: 1.42, 95% CI: 1.25–1.62), and in those who lost their job due to the pandemic (PR: 1.82, 95% CI: 1.62–2.04). Having moderate (PR: 1.52, 95% CI: 1.26–1.83) and moderate to severe depressive symptoms (PR: 1.58, 95% CI: 1.11–2.27) also increased the prevalence of food insecurity. Conclusion During the pandemic, the prevalence of food insecurity has increased in the Peruvian high-altitude population, revealing the need for preventive strategies. Identification of pandemic-related characteristics that influence food insecurity can guide interventions in at-risk individuals and reduce the long-term impact of this problem on overall health and quality of life. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T17:51:17Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d17627115f54421ca33e17963e06b4fa |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T17:51:17Z |
| publishDate | 2022-10-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-d17627115f54421ca33e17963e06b4fa2022-12-22T03:22:30ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582022-10-0122111310.1186/s12889-022-14372-6Prevalence and factors associated with food insecurity in eight high-altitude cities in Peru during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic: a retrospective, cross-sectional studyJ. Pierre Zila-Velasque0Pamela Grados-Espinoza1Katherine Quispe-Chura2Christopher G. Valdiviezo-Morales3Cristian Diaz-Vélez4Mario J. Valladares-Garrido5School of Medicine, Universidad Nacional Daniel Alcides CarriónSchool of Medicine, Universidad Nacional Daniel Alcides CarriónSchool of Medicine, Universidad Nacional del AltiplanoSchool of Medicine, Universidad Nacional de PiuraSchool of Medicine, Universidad Privada Antenor OrregoUniversidad ContinentalAbstract Background Food insecurity has increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, affecting an estimated 260 million people. However, little evidence is available on how pandemic-related characteristics influence food security in a high-altitude population. The objective of this study was to assess factors associated with food insecurity in high-altitude Peruvian cities during the second epidemic wave of COVID-19. Methods A retrospective, cross-sectional study was conducted in eight Peruvian cities over 1,500 m above sea level. An online survey measuring food security, presence of anxiety & depressive symptoms, sleep quality, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), resilience, and sociodemographic characteristics was disseminated through social networks between December 2020 and February 2021. Generalized linear models were used to identify an association between the study variables. Results Of 700 participants, the median age was 23 years, and more than half were female (56.7%). The prevalence of food insecurity was 37.1%. Anxiety symptoms, depressive symptoms, and PTSD were present in 72.7%, 64.1%, and 15% of respondents, respectively. The prevalence of food insecurity was higher in people with fair (PR: 1.60, 95% CI: 1.23–2.07) and very bad perception of their health (PR: 4.06, 95% CI: 2.63–6.26), individuals seeking mental health support (PR: 1.42, 95% CI: 1.25–1.62), and in those who lost their job due to the pandemic (PR: 1.82, 95% CI: 1.62–2.04). Having moderate (PR: 1.52, 95% CI: 1.26–1.83) and moderate to severe depressive symptoms (PR: 1.58, 95% CI: 1.11–2.27) also increased the prevalence of food insecurity. Conclusion During the pandemic, the prevalence of food insecurity has increased in the Peruvian high-altitude population, revealing the need for preventive strategies. Identification of pandemic-related characteristics that influence food insecurity can guide interventions in at-risk individuals and reduce the long-term impact of this problem on overall health and quality of life.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-022-14372-6High-altitude citiesCOVID-19Food securityMental healthPublic healthPeru |
| spellingShingle | J. Pierre Zila-Velasque Pamela Grados-Espinoza Katherine Quispe-Chura Christopher G. Valdiviezo-Morales Cristian Diaz-Vélez Mario J. Valladares-Garrido Prevalence and factors associated with food insecurity in eight high-altitude cities in Peru during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic: a retrospective, cross-sectional study BMC Public Health High-altitude cities COVID-19 Food security Mental health Public health Peru |
| title | Prevalence and factors associated with food insecurity in eight high-altitude cities in Peru during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic: a retrospective, cross-sectional study |
| title_full | Prevalence and factors associated with food insecurity in eight high-altitude cities in Peru during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic: a retrospective, cross-sectional study |
| title_fullStr | Prevalence and factors associated with food insecurity in eight high-altitude cities in Peru during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic: a retrospective, cross-sectional study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Prevalence and factors associated with food insecurity in eight high-altitude cities in Peru during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic: a retrospective, cross-sectional study |
| title_short | Prevalence and factors associated with food insecurity in eight high-altitude cities in Peru during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic: a retrospective, cross-sectional study |
| title_sort | prevalence and factors associated with food insecurity in eight high altitude cities in peru during the second wave of the covid 19 pandemic a retrospective cross sectional study |
| topic | High-altitude cities COVID-19 Food security Mental health Public health Peru |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-022-14372-6 |
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