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The food security and nutrition crisis in Venezuela

Author

Listed:
  • Doocy, Shannon
  • Ververs, Mija-Tesse
  • Spiegel, Paul
  • Beyrer, Chris

Abstract

As Venezuela's economic and political crises continues to evolve, hyperinflation, declining food production and food shortages are contributing to the deterioration of the food and nutrition situation. While official data is largely unavailable, food security and nutrition data from a variety of sources suggest that nearly the entire population is food insecure and that prevalence of acute malnutrition among children is reaching crisis levels in vulnerable populations. In the most recent national survey, 80% of households were food insecure and most households receiving government food assistance reported only occasional receipt. Prevalence of acute malnutrition among children under five increased in vulnerable communities across many states, surpassing serious or critical thresholds in multiple states. Hospitals across the country are reporting increases in both the number and proportion of pediatric consultations and admissions with acute malnutrition, and malnutrition deaths are increasingly common. Declining food security, increases in prevalence of acute malnutrition among children in vulnerable communities, rising pediatric hospital admissions with acute malnutrition and clinician reports of child deaths due to acute malnutrition are indicative of a crisis. The response to the nutrition and food security crisis to date has been limited. There is an urgent need to begin taking steps to address widespread food insecurity and to support treatment for children with acute malnutrition.

Suggested Citation

  • Doocy, Shannon & Ververs, Mija-Tesse & Spiegel, Paul & Beyrer, Chris, 2019. "The food security and nutrition crisis in Venezuela," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 226(C), pages 63-68.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:226:y:2019:i:c:p:63-68
    DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2019.02.007
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    Cited by:

    1. Ahrens, Achim & Casalis, Marine & Hangartner, Dominik & Sánchez, Rodrigo, 2024. "Cash-based interventions improve multidimensional integration outcomes of Venezuelan immigrants," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 181(C).
    2. Abdurazzakova, Dilnovoz & Kosec, Katrina & Parpiev, Ziyodullo, 2024. "Women’s involvement in intra-household decision-making and infant and young child feeding practices in Central Asia," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 178(C).
    3. Gregori Galofre-Vila, 2023. "Scarring through the German hyperinflation," Documentos de Trabajo EH-Valencia (DT-EHV) 2302, Economic History group at the Universitat de Valencia.
    4. Alice Blukacz & Alejandra Carreño Calderon & Alexandra Obach & Báltica Cabieses & Jeniffer Peroncini & Alejandra Oliva, 2022. "Perceptions of Health Needs among Venezuelan Women Crossing the Border in Northern Chile during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(22), pages 1-22, November.

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