Human development index and economic inaccessibility to a healthy diet in south america during 2017–2022: an ecological study

Apaza-Durand A.J.; Alvarez-Rios C.; Reyes Peña F.A.; Ruiton Ricra J.G.; Daga R. · Nutricion Clinica y Dietetica Hospitalaria (2026) · DOI: 10.12873/461apaza

Resumen

Background: Access to healthy diets is a key determinant of food security and social well-being. Objective: To assess the relationship between the Human Development Index (HDI) and the proportion of people facing economic inaccessibility to a healthy diet (PIEDS) in ten South American countries, 2017–2022. Materials and Methods: A longitudinal ecological analysis was conducted using annual aggregated country-year data from ten South American countries between 2017 and 2022. PIEDS was estimated as the percentage and number of individuals experiencing economic inaccessibility to a healthy diet. Descriptive analyses, ANOVA, and independent Spearman correlations by country were performed. Results: Brazil concentrated the highest number of PIEDS, followed by Colombia and Peru. Chile and Bolivia showed significant reductions, while Colombia, Uruguay, and Suriname exhibited increases. Significant negative correlations between HDI and PIEDS were observed in Chile, Peru, and Guyana, whereas a positive correlation was found in Suriname. Conclusion: Economic inaccessibility to a healthy diet may persist despite human development and be influenced by policies or phenomena such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

Instituciones: Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos; Universidad Tecnológica de los Andes; Universidad Andina del Cusco; Universidad Privada Norbert Wiener