The food environment in favelas is associated with the presence of arterial hypertension and diabetes in socially vulnerable women.

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the relationship between the food environment in favelas and the presence of arterial hypertension and diabetes among women in the context of social vulnerability.

Design: A cross-sectional and partially ecological population-based study was conducted in a Brazilian capital city. The healthiness and availability of ultra-processed foods in the food environment were assessed through retailer audits using the AUDITNOVA instrument. The presence of diabetes and arterial hypertension was evaluated based on self-reported prior medical diagnosis. Logistic regression models were applied using generalized estimating equations, adjusted for age, education, race/skin color, and poverty status.

Participants: 1,882 adult women of reproductive age (20 to 44 years).

Results: It was found that 10.9% of women were hypertensive, and 3.2% had diabetes. The likelihood of having diabetes and arterial hypertension decreases with higher levels of healthiness in the food environment (Diabetes [OR: 0.25; 95% CI: 0.07, 0.97]/Arterial hypertension [OR: 0.45; 95% CI: 0.24, 0.81]) and increases with greater availability of ultra-processed foods in their living area (Diabetes [OR: 2.18; 95% CI: 1.13, 4.21]/Arterial hypertension [OR: 1.64; 95% CI: 1.09, 2.47]).

Conclusions: These results suggest that characteristics of the consumer food environment have a significant effect on the occurrence of chronic diseases among socially vulnerable women, adding to the existing evidence in the literature and highlighting the need for integrated health care.