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

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