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Addressing Environmental Determinants of Food Insecurity in Rural Guatemalan Communities
Author(s) -
Lee EunKyung,
deFulladolsa Patricia,
Sibrian Ricardo,
Medina Maria,
Bermudez Odilia
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.29.1_supplement.898.13
Subject(s) - food insecurity , geography , food waste , socioeconomics , food preparation , environmental health , descriptive statistics , food security , agriculture , medicine , food safety , biology , ecology , food science , sociology , mathematics , archaeology , statistics
Objective To assess prevalence of household food insecurity (F‐Ins) and factors related to solid waste (SW) exposure among residents of 3 communities from the municipality of Santa Catarina Mita, Department of Jutiapa, Guatemala. Methods: F‐Ins and SW were assessed by questionnaire and direct observation in 184 families from the communities of La Barranca (LB), El Quebracho (EQ) y La Javia (LJ). Descriptive statistics were generated to explain findings. Results: The 184 families included 590 members, mean # =4.4+2.3; 45% males and mean age=31y, range 0‐99y. Moderate F‐Ins was identified in 34%, 42% and 17% of families in LB, EQ y LJ, respectively. Severe F‐Ins was found, for the same communities, in 15%, 4% and 8% of them, respectively. For SW disposal, only LJ had a regular pick‐up collection truck. The other communities practiced intra‐household methods for SW disposal, mainly burning. When asked about level of concern burning their trash, 80% of total families said to be concerned with this practice. With crop waste, burning was the most used way for disposal at 19% in LJ, 71% in EQ and 55% in LB; while only 10%, 4% and 9% of families from same communities (same ordering) did composting of organic waste; while re‐using it (e.g. as animal feeds) was done in by 19% in LJ, 56% in EQ and 53% in LB, respectively. Conclusions Food insecurity affected large proportion of families in the communities of LB, EQ and LJ. Those families identified SW management as a major concern. The solid waste originated by families in this study may threaten foodsecurity and the environment as only few of those families were practicing environmental friendly strategies for SW management.