Práticas Alimentares da População em Situação de Rua em Uberlândia - MG

Abstract

The homeless population presents poverty, weakened family ties and the lack of regular conventional housing. The scarcity of research on this topic results in the need to investigate these characteristics. The objective of this study is to evaluate the eating practices of the homeless population in the city of Uberlândia-MG. This is a cross-sectional study carried out in the city's shelters. Sociodemographic variables and eating habits were analyzed. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 21 to obtain frequency and percentage. 167 individuals were evaluated. Observe, predominantly, male people who feed themselves through donations or in shelter institutions. Most declared, in the previous week, that they consumed beans, rice, vegetables and meat every day; consumption of eggs, milk or derivatives, fruit every 1 to 3 days and considerable consumption of processed and ultra-processed foods. Furthermore, we predominantly reported water intake of less than 2000 ml daily and that they obtained water from taps and public drinking fountains. It was concluded that the homeless population analyzed suffers from food and nutritional insecurity and violation of the human right to healthy and adequate food.