[Food insecurity, gender and race/color: a study in the semi-arid northeast]

This study aimed to analyze the association between food insecurity (FI) and the gender and race/color characteristics of the reference people in households in a municipality in the semiarid northeastern region. A cross-sectional study was conducted, with a probabilistic sample and household interviews, with 737 households in 2022-2023. The Brazilian Food Insecurity Scale was used to measure FI, and self-declared gender and race/color profiles were created (White man, White woman, Black man, Black woman). Multivariate multinomial logistic regression models were estimated to analyze the association between AI profiles and levels. A high prevalence of FI (41.6%) was observed, especially in households where the reference person was a woman. Households headed by black women and white women were more likely to be in Moderate/severe FI when compared to white men. The findings suggest that gender and race/skin color should be included in formulating and implementing public policies related to AI in an intersectional and intersectoral manner, especially in populations that present more significant social and climatic vulnerabilities, such as the northeastern semiarid region.