PERCEPTION OF FOOD INSECURITY IN TUCUMAN (ARGENTINA) IN THE CONTEXT OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Objectives: a) to describe the levels of food and nutrition security (SAN) perceived in households of the agglomerate of Gran San Miguel de Tucuman (Argentina) in the context of social, preventive and mandatory isolation (ASPO) due to the Covid-19 pandemic;b) Analyze whether there are differences in levels of food insecurity (AI) according to household size, the presence of children under 18 years, compliance with ASPO and socioeconomic level (NSE)and c) identify factors associated with the perception of hunger. Methods: Quantitative cross-sectional study in 2,558households.Data was collected using a digital questionnaire.Aspects related to the home and its responsible were investigated. The NSE was estimated using the Family Affluence Scale and the SAN through the Latin American and Caribbean Scale for the measurement of Food Security.Descriptive analyzes, binary and multivariate logistic regression tests were performed (p<0,05). Results: 36,9% of mild IA, 9,9% of moderate IA and 3,7% of severe IA were found, with variations according to household size, presence of minors, compliance with ASPO and NSE. Conclusions: In the context of ASPO arranged to mitigate the effects of Covid-19, the SAN is compromised in half of the homes of the GSMT agglomerate.The risk of perceiving AI and especially hunger was higher in the larger households, with medium and low SES, and in those did not comply with the quarantine.