Abstract:

Abstract This is a quantitative analytical cross-sectional study, with non-probabilistic sampling for convenience carried out in the municipality of Santa Maria, RS, Brazil, from February 2016 to June 2018. It aimed to analyze the occurrence of food insecurity in the homes of families with children exposed to HIV and associated factors. The short version of the Escala Brasileira de Insegurança Alimentar (Brazilian Food Insecurity Scale), characterization of family members and children's anthropometric data were used. 88 family members were interviewed: 52.2% of these families suffered from food insecurity. A family income equivalent to less than one minimum wage (p <0.001), to consider it moderately difficult to maintain the monitoring of the child’s health (p = 0.009), to take the child to less than eight medical appointments in the last year (p = 0.011), and to be absent in consultations (p = 0.030) were factors significantly associated with food insecurity. There was no association with the children's nutritional status. Expansion of access and longitudinality in services is suggested to favor health care for exposed children.

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