Relationship between food environment, social isolation and diet quality in Brazil / Relación entre el entorno alimentario, el aislamiento social y calidad de la dieta en Brasil. Introducción

Introduction. The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted diet quality in differentways. In this context, community, organizational and consumer nutrition environments can influence the eating pattern. Objective. The purpose of this study was to identify how quarantine during the COVID-19 pandemic changed the diet in Brazil. Materials and methods. A natural experiment organized into experimental (social-isolated group - SIG) and control groups (non-isolated group - CG) was conducted with data collection from an online survey at the beginning of the pandemic (T0) and in the less restrictive period of 2020 (T1). Pre-post improvements in diet quality (IDQ) were determined for the SIG and CG. Intro-intergroup changes were tested using the Mann­Whitney and Wilcoxon signed rank tests. The intervention effect was estimated using crude and adjusted difference- indifference in multilevel regression analysis accounting for repeated measures. Results. A sample of 565 Brazilian adults answered the questionnaire at T0 and T1. IDQ was favored twice or more by attitudes such as buying food directly from farmers/street markets, reducing requests for food delivery, and increasing time spent on eating activities and the frequency of cooking. The isolated group had no IDQ at T1, whereas the no isolated group, who worsened diet quality (6.1%) at T0, improved it at T1 (4.8%). Conclusions. The restrictive quarantine forced the non-isolated population to have an experience comparable to a food desert, negatively affecting their diet(AU)

COVID-19 ha impactado la calidad de la dieta de diferentes maneras. Los entornos comunitarios, organizacionales y nutricionales de los consumidores pueden influir en los patrones dietéticos. Objetivo. el objetivo de este estudio fue identificar cómo la cuarentena durante la pandemia de COVID-19 cambió la dieta en Brasil. Materiales y métodos. Se realizó un experimento natural organizado en grupos experimental (grupo socialmente aislado - SIG) y control (grupo no aislado - GC) con datos recolectados en una encuesta en línea al inicio de la pandemia (T0) y en el momento menos restrictivo de 2020 (T1). Se determinaron mejoras pre-post en la calidad de la dieta (IDQ) para SIG y GC. Los cambios intra-intergrupo se probaron utilizando las pruebas de rangos con signos de Mann-Whitney y Wilcoxon. El efecto de la intervención se estimó utilizando diferencias crudas y ajustadas en el análisis de regresión multinivel, teniendo en cuenta medidas repetidas. Resultados. Una muestra de 565 adultos brasileños respondió el cuestionario en T0 y T1. IDQ se vio favorecido dos o más veces por actitudes como comprar alimentos directamente de los agricultores/mercados callejeros, reducir los pedidos de entrega de alimentos y aumentar el tiempo dedicado a las actividades alimentarias y la frecuencia de cocinar. El grupo aislado no mostró IDQ en T1, mientras que el grupo no aislado, que tenía peor calidad de la dieta (6,1%) en T0, mejoró en T1 (4,8%). Conclusiones. La cuarentena restrictiva obligó a la población no aislada a tener una experiencia comparable a un desierto alimentario, afectando negativamente su dieta(AU)

The experience of community urban gardens: Social organization and food security / A experiência das hortas urbanas comunitárias: organização social e segurança alimentar

ABSTRACT Objective To characterize Salvador-Bahia community gardens, with regard to social organization, work, supply and access to food, in line with the concept of Food Security. Methods A cross-sectional, exploratory study was carried out involving information collection, identification and selection of community gardens. Seven community gardens were located, although only five participated, with data collected through the application of semi-structured questionnaires, used with 13 horticulturists. Results Most of the gardens (80.0%) were located in popular neighborhoods and had been in place for less than five years; they operated with no land legalization (80.0%), in assigned areas (80.0%) and without any technical support (100.0%). No social organization was available in most of the initiatives (60.0%). The greatest difficulties included: lack of funding (80.0%) and volunteers for work (80.0%), as well as water use restrictions (80.0%). The crops included different fruits and vegetables, for self-consumption (80.0%), donation (60.0%), and/or commercialization (40.0%). Horticulturists included women (50.0%) and men (50.0%), mean age 44.8 years, education between illiterates (25.0%) and upper level (37.5%), rural migrants (50.0%) and experienced farmers (62.5%). Positive aspects included the production and access to natural food and the pleasure of working with earth. Conclusion Insufficient policies limited technical support and financing were observed in this segment, although there were contributions to the generation of work opportunities, supply and access to food. The study showed a strong link between community gardens and strategies to promote Food and Nutrition Security.

RESUMO Objetivo Caracterizar as hortas urbanas comunitárias de Salvador-Bahia, quanto à organização social, ao trabalho, à oferta e o acesso aos alimentos, em alinhamento ao conceito de Segurança Alimentar. Métodos Realizou-se estudo transversal, exploratório, envolvendo levantamento de informações, identificação e seleção das hortas comunitárias. Sete hortas comunitárias foram localizadas, das quais cinco participaram, com coleta de dados por meio da aplicação de questionários semiestruturados, junto a 13 horticultores. Resultados A maioria das hortas (80,0%) localizava-se em bairros populares, tinha menos de cinco anos de existência, funcionava sem legalização da terra (80,0%), em áreas cedidas (80,0%) e sem apoio técnico (100,0%). Observou--se ausência de organização social, na maioria das iniciativas (60,0%). As maiores dificuldades incluíram: falta de financiamento (80,0%), de voluntários para o trabalho (80,0%) e limitações no uso da água (80,0%). Os cultivos compreenderam variedades de frutas e hortaliças, destinadas ao autoconsumo (80,0%), à doação (60,0%), e/ou à comercialização (40,0%). Os horticultores incluíram mulheres (50,0%) e homens (50,0%), média de idade de 44,8 anos, escolaridade entre analfabetos (25,0%) e nível superior (37,5%), migrantes rurais (50,0%) e com experiência na agricultura (62,5%). Como aspectos positivos do trabalho, constaram a produção e o acesso a alimentos naturais e o prazer pelo trabalho com a terra. Conclusão Verificou-se insuficiência de políticas para o segmento, reduzido apoio técnico e financiamento, conquanto houvesse contribuições para a geração de trabalho, a oferta e o acesso aos alimentos. O estudo revelou forte vinculação entre hortas comunitárias e estratégias de promoção da Segurança Alimentar e Nutricional.