CARACTERIZACIÓN SOCIOECONÓMICA Y PATRÓN ALIMENTARIO DE LAS FAMILIAS DE LA REGIÓN SURESTE DE ZACATECAS

Abstract

Globally, food security is one of the most relevant topics to deal with. In Mexico, one way to fight poverty and hunger is the Special Program for Food Security (SPFS), the main objective of which is that marginalized rural families have access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food. In order to establish strategies and concrete actions for achieving food security in 30 communities in the southeast of Zacatecas, a socioeconomic appraisal and food consumption patterns in a sample of 260 families were done. Food consumption was determined in regards to energy requirements (nutrimental value), food sufficiency levels and the nutritional quality of the food consumed. 60% of the communities were found below the estimated average requirements for energy (2415 kcal). 20% of the communities had an adequate level of food sufficiency, 46% an acceptable, 20% a deficient, and 13.3% a critical one. Food nutritional quality was in the average range since 41% of the food consumption was of energy giving foods, 42% of body building, and 17% of protective ones. Keywords: hunger, poverty, food security, food consumption pattern, nutritional quality