Insegurança alimentar e risco de depressão: um estudo transversal com famílias do município de Cuité, Paraíba.

Abstract

The Food and Nutrition Security (FNS) aims to ensure the regular and permanent access to good quality food in sufficient quantity, without compromising the access to other essential needs. Therefore, the Food and Nutrition Insecurity (FNI) is considered to be present when it is diagnosed the absence of one of these factors, and may result in the impairment of physical and mental well-being of people. This study aimed to analyze the association between household FNI and the risk of depression in a member of families living in the city of Cuité-PB. This is a cross-sectional study, with families living in rural and urban areas, with the final sample 326 households, being used as a tool for data collection a semi-structured questionnaire. To measure household FNI it was used the Brazilian Food Insecurity Scale (BFIS) and to assess the risk of depression the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) was used. The results showed prevalence of FNI in 38% of households, the majority of mild and moderate levels, and risk of depression in 20.7% of subjects. By relating the variables, it was observed that people living in households FNS had a lower risk of depression. This way, it is clear that the FNI is associated with depression, contributing, thus, to the development of inter-sector policies.