EVALUACIÓN DE SEGURIDAD ALIMENTARIA Y DIVERSIDAD DIETÉTICA EN LA COMUNIDAD TSÁCHILA, SANTO DOMINGO DE LOS TSÁCHILAS, ECUADOR

Abstract

Food security is present when all people enjoy, in a timely and permanent manner, physical, economic and social access to the food they need, in adequate quantity and quality for its appropriate consumption and biological utilization. The purpose of this research was to evaluate food security in families residing in the Tsáchila community "Colorados del Bua", in the province of Santo Domingo de los Tsachilas. A quantitative, observational, descriptive and cross-sectional approach was used, non-probabilistic sampling using the convenience sampling technique, where 60 families were selected who agreed to participate in the research by means of an informed consent. To collect data, the survey technique was used, focusing on the collection of information on: sociodemographic factors, availability information, access, food consumption, dietary diversity, biological utilization, food insecurity and anthropometric measurements. The instruments used were: questionnaire covering sociodemographic and anthropometric characteristics, the Dietary Diversity Score in (HDDS) questionnaire and the Latin American and Caribbean Food Security Scale (ELCSA). The results show that more than 80% of Tsachilas households are food secure because most heads of households are professionally engaged in agriculture and produce their own food, which is mainly consumed, such as roots, tubers, cereals, fruits and vegetables.