Food insecurity in Chilean university students during the COVID-19 pandemic

Food and nutrition were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, increasing levels of food insecurity. University students were a risk group for food insecurity due to the closure of educational establishments where they received their main meals.

To assess food insecurity among Chilean public university students before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The study had a non-probabilistic before-and-after design. Undergraduate students from all colleges at the university were invited to answer an online survey about food insecurity, devised based on FAO Food Insecurity Experience Scale.

Nine hundred and one students answered the survey. The prevalence of moderate/severe food insecurity increased from 9.5% to 14.3% before and during the pandemic, respectively. Forty two percent (n = 196) of student households became food insecure during the sanitary crisis. Students commented on the positive and negative aspects of the pandemic in their eating behaviors.

Undergraduate students are vulnerable to food insecurity. Mitigation actions should be carried out when educational establishments are closed.