Exploring food purchase decisions in food insecure households: an exploratory qualitative study in an emerging Latin American country

Dublin Core

Title

Exploring food purchase decisions in food insecure households: an exploratory qualitative study in an emerging Latin American country

Subject

AMERICA LATINA
INSEGURIDAD ALIMENTARIA
ALIMENTACION
BIBLIOGRAFIA NACIONAL QUIMICA
2024

Abstract

An in-depth understanding of how citizens make their food choices is necessary to develop targeted strategies to promote healthier dietary habits. However, studies with vulnerable populations in non-WEIRD (Western- Educated-Industrialized-Rich-Democratic) societies are still scarce. In this context, the present study aimed at exploring the food purchase decisions of adults in charge of children and adolescents living in households experiencing food insecurity in Uruguay, an emerging Latin American country. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with beneficiaries of food assistance programs from both the state and civil society in four Uruguayan cities. The transcripts were analyzed using content analysis based on inductive coding. Three main themes related to food purchase decisions were identified: frequency of food purchasing, food purchase locations, and motives underlying food choice. Income was identified as the key determinant of food choice. Participants reported experiencing challenges for managing their limited household budget, struggling to purchase food throughout the month. They relied on an intricate set of multiple strategies to maximize the quantity of foods they can purchase with their limited household budget. Despite extreme focus on the immediate lack of money, food purchase decisions seemed to be highly rational, instead of driven by automatic or impulsive processes. Results have relevant implications for the development of strategies to promote healthier eating patterns among socioeconomically vulnerable sectors of the population in Uruguay and similar settings.

Creator

Machín, Leandro
Brunet, Gerónimo
Fajardo, Gabriela
Bonilla, Luciana
Costa, María
González, Fernanda
Bentancor, Silvia
Girona, Alejandra
Verdier, Sofía
Curutchet, María Rosa
Cauci, Adriana
Pochellú, Lucía 
Ares, Gastón

Source

Food Quality and Preference v. 116, 2024. -- e105146

Publisher

Elsevier

Date

2024

Rights

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Format

PDF

Extent

8 p.

Language

Inglés

Type

Artículo

Identifier

10.1016/j.foodqual.2024.105146

Document Item Type Metadata

Original Format

PDF
Date Added
July 4, 2024
Collection
Bibliografía Nacional Química
Item Type
Document
Tags
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Citation
Machín, Leandro et al., “Exploring food purchase decisions in food insecure households: an exploratory qualitative study in an emerging Latin American country,” RIQUIM - Repositorio Institucional de la Facultad de Química - UdelaR, accessed November 17, 2025, https://riquim.fq.edu.uy/items/show/6808.