Determinants and Consequences of Food Insecurity in Artisanal Fishing Families From the Coastal Community of Sonora, Mexico

Background: Families living from artisanal fisheries are vulnerable to food insecurity. Objective: This research aimed to assess the determinants and consequences of food insecurity in artisanal fishing families from the coastal community of Sonora, Mexico, and to understand how these families face food insecurity. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study with 116 mothers. A socioeconomic, demographic, and nutritional knowledge survey was applied to assess determinants. A survey about food in the community and food security scale were collected to evaluate food insecurity and two 24-hour dietary recalls and anthropometric measures to assess consequences. Field notes about facing food insecurity were collected. Results: Sixty-eight percent of families have food insecurity. Being above the poverty line, higher father education, knowing how many glasses of water should be drunk per day, and how many minutes of physical activity should be done per day were associated with lower food insecurity. Not having medical service and lower mother education were associated with higher food insecurity. Higher food insecurity was associated with buying in a convenience store; higher food insecurity and higher mother education were associated with lower dietary score; and higher father education was associated with higher dietary score. Being below the extreme poverty line by income and number of children were associated with lower waist circumference; lower father education was associated with higher waist circumference of mothers. Conclusions: Artisanal fishing families residing in the coastal community of Sonora, Mexico, experience high food insecurity associated with social and economic determinants and their dietary quality.