Food Insecurity, Diet Quality, and Hypertension Risk in Rural Nicaragua

Abstract

Background Individuals within rural Nicaragua have demonstrated elevated risk for hypertension (HTN); however, research examining socio-economic and dietary risk factors is limited. Therefore, the objective of this study was to examine the relationship between food security, dietary patterns, and HTN risk in rural Nicaragua. Methods This cross-sectional study included adult participants recruited from volunteer-led health clinics in the mountainous region of the Central Highlands in the state of Matagalpa, Nicaragua, in March 2018. Data collection included an oral survey focusing on household socio-demographics, food security, dietary patterns, and anthropometric and blood pressure measurements. Results A total of 123 men and women aged 18 years and up participated in the study (85% of whom were female). Participants were 32.2(± 15.7) years old on average. Food insecurity risk was high, with 78.4% of households identified as severely food insecure. The most commonly consumed daily foods included beans (88%), corn tortillas (84%), and rice (80%). The mean BMI was 26.2 kg/m2 (± 3.9), with 45 percent of participants were identified as overweight and 17.4% as obese. Sixty-three percent exhibited elevated blood pressure, and independent t-test results demonstrated food insecurity was marginally associated with blood pressure (p=0.077) and geographic location (p= 0.060) but not weight status (p=0.97). No significant associations were identified via regression analysis Conclusions Participants from rural Nicaragua reported a lack of dietary variety which contrasts dietary patterns recommended for optimal blood pressure control and a lack of healthful food access as demonstrated by elevated food insecurity and related HTN. This study highlights the link between nutrition, socio-economic risks, and health disparities, as well as the need to for future research around healthful food access and hypertension.