Food insecurity and child undernutrition among the Tolupan population in Montaña de la Flor (Orica-FM) following COVID-19 and hurricanes Eta and Iota

Abstract

This study aimed to analyze food insecurity and child undernutrition among five Tolupan tribes in Montaña de la Flor, Honduras, following the combined impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and hurricanes Eta and Iota. Using a quantitative, descriptive, cross-sectional approach, the Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES) was administered in 249 households, and anthropometric assessments were conducted on 295 children under five years old. Results indicated that 86% of households experienced moderate or severe food insecurity, with severe conditions affecting 52.10%. Regarding child nutritional status, 58.5% displayed chronic malnutrition, with 30.07% severely affected, alongside alarming rates of thinness (18.63%) and overweight/obesity (12.74%).

Significant differences between communities were observed, linked to their primary food supply sources, with greater vulnerability in communities heavily reliant on external markets. The study also confirmed that low educational attainment, predominantly among interviewed women, exacerbated household food insecurity. Extreme climatic events intensified the food crisis, highlighting persistent structural vulnerabilities. Emphasis was placed on traditional community resilience practices as key assets in coping with these crises. Differentiated intercultural policies were recommended, aimed at enhancing local food production, nutritional literacy, and territorial protection against extractive activities.