P-60: Food insecurity among children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes: a cross-sectional study from Brazil
J Braga, G Pinto, I Pimentel, A B Azevedo, L Campos, P Padilha, , Núcleo de Estudos em Nutrição e PediatriaAbstract
Introduction
Type 1 diabetes (T1D) requires continuous access to adequate nutrition for glycemic management and growth. Food insecurity (FI), defined as limited access to adequate food, may negatively affect diabetes management and development, especially in vulnerable pediatric populations.
Objectives
To evaluate the frequency of food insecurity and associated socioeconomic factors among children and adolescents with T1D.
Methods
This cross-sectional study included children and adolescents with T1D followed at the diabetes outpatient clinic of a public pediatric hospital in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Food insecurity was assessed using the Brazilian Food Insecurity Scale (EBIA). Sociodemographic variables included age, sex, household size, caregiver educational level, family income, and receipt of social benefits. Nutritional status was evaluated using body mass index-for-age and height-for-age indices. Statistical analysis was performed using Pearson’s chi-square test, with significance set at 5%.
Results
A total of 130 participants were evaluated, with mean age of 11.0±3.6 years, predominantly females (60.8%, n=79). Most families did not receive social benefits (63.8%, n=81). Mothers were the primary caregivers in 77.7% (n=101) of cases, and 80% (n=104) of caregivers had at least partial secondary education. Most participants were classified as eutrophic according to body mass index-for-age (58.4%, n=76), and 96.9% (n=126) had adequate height-for-age. Food insecurity was identified in 67.4% (n=87) of households, including 50.4% (n=65) mild FI, 11.6% (n=15) moderate FI, and 5.4% (n=7) severe FI. FI was associated with lower family income (p=0.000), lower caregiver educational level (p=0.017), and receipt of social benefits (p=0.030).
Conclusions
FI was highly prevalent among children and adolescents with T1D and associated with socioeconomic vulnerability, reinforcing the importance of addressing social determinants of health in pediatric diabetes care.