(P13-023-24) Food Insecurity and Dietary Diversity in Mexican Adults During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Objectives: To evaluate changes in food security and dietary diversity during the dynamics of the COVID-19 epidemic in a follow-up telephone survey in Mexican adult population.

Methods: With a national sample of Mexican adults over 20 years of age with a landline or mobile phone number. The baseline measurement was in the month of May 2020 (in lockdown) and the follow-up was carried out from June 29 to July 16, 2020. Food insecurity (FI) was measured by a scale of experiences of developed by FAO (FIES), in a module adapted to the pandemic to measure FI in the last 30 days. Household FI was classified as food security, mild, moderate or severe FI. Dietary diversity was assessed by an adaptation of the Household Dietary Diversity Score (HDDS), methodology developed by the Food and Nutrition Technical Assistance Project (FANTA). We asked whether the participant consumed in the last seven days a list of 18 food groups (Healthy: Cereals, Roots/tubers, Fresh vegetables, Industrialized vegetables, Fresh fruits, Meat/poultry, Eggs, Fish/seafood, Legumes, nuts/seeds, milk/dairy, oils and spices/coffee/tea. Non-healthy: Industrialized fruits with added sugar, Animal fats, Added sugar/honey, Sweetened beverages, Cadies/ pastries). Differences between study stages were assessed using paired data tests. A MANOVA model was performed to evaluate changes in the proportion of regular consumers (≥3 days) by time and FI level; as well as the average number of healthy and non-healthy food groups consumed.

Results: 918 adults had baseline and follow-up measurements (85.5% of the sample). Moderate or severe FI was 12.7% at baseline and 13.2% at follow-up. The percentage of consumers tends to decrease at follow-up as the level of FI increases, especially in tubers, fresh fruits and vegetables, meats, fish and spices/coffee/tea in healthy foods; while all unhealthy foods showed this trend. Adults in households with severe FI consumed three less healthy food groups than without FI, with no changes at follow-up.

Conclusions: FI did not change over time, however because it was negatively associated with adult dietary diversity, it is necessary to establish assistance strategies to prevent negative outcomes of a potential SARS-CoV-2 infection in vulnerable population.

Funding Sources: Mexican Ministry of Health