Climatic Variables and Food Security of Villagers during the COVID-19 Pandemic in the Districts of Huancayo, Peru

Abstract

The study investigated the relationship between climatic variables and food security in households in the districts of Huancayo (Chongos Alto, Viques, Pucará, and Huancayo) during the COVID-19 pandemic. A cross-sectional observational study was conducted with a sample of 272 households out of 36,453. Food security data were collected through questionnaires, and climatic variables (temperature, humidity, and precipitation) were obtained from CEPREANDES weather stations between September 2020 and February 2021. The results showed that 44.49% of households experienced mild food insecurity, while 55.5% experienced moderate food insecurity. Recorded climatic conditions included maximum temperatures of 28°C in Pucará and 27°C in Huancayo, and a minimum of -8°C in Chongos Alto. Relative humidity reached 89% in Pucará and 87% in Chongos Alto and Huancayo, while maximum rainfall was 28 mm in Chongos Alto and 23 mm in Huancayo. Multivariate analysis revealed that relative humidity had a significant association with moderate food insecurity (B=16.406; 95% CI: -64735 to 64768), increasing the risk 16 times under high humidity conditions. No significant relationships were found with temperature (B=-7.107; 95% CI: -77320 to 77306) or precipitation (B=-7.831; 95% CI: -25690 to 25674). It was concluded that relative humidity is a key factor in food security, particularly during the pandemic, while other climatic variables showed no significant impacts. These findings highlight the need for urgent adaptations to climatic challenges in vulnerable contexts.