[Association between food insecurity and infant development at age 18 months in the urban area of Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil].

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the association between household food insecurity and child development at age 18 months in the municipality of Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil. This longitudinal study was carried out with a population-based sample of 465 mothers and infants from Pelotas. Infants' cognitive, motor, socioemotional, and language developments were assessed by the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, third edition. The Brazilian Food Insecurity Scale was used to define food safety/insecurity, which classifies households into four categories: food security or mild, moderate, or severe food insecurity. The results of the adjusted analysis showed that food insecurity only affected motor and socioemotional developments at age 18 months. Each increase in food insecurity score decreased that of motor development by 2.30 points on average (95%CI: -4.31; -0.48) at age 18 months. Similarly, each increase in food insecurity score decreased that of socioemotional development by 4.05 points on average (95%CI: -7.34; -0.76). Results show that food insecurity was associated with lower motor and socioemotional developments at age 18 months and stress the importance of the right to adequate food and to environments that provide stimulating experiences for child development.