Two out of every three Brazilian families with children struggle to put enough food on the table. Researchers used a special mapping tool called a causal loop diagram to understand all the connected reasons why children go hungry in Brazil. By talking with twelve experts from different fields, they created a visual map showing how poverty, stress, parenting, and daycare all link together to affect children’s food security. The study found that improving food quality and supporting parents through better policies could help break the cycle of childhood hunger, especially during crises like COVID-19.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: How different factors in Brazilian society work together to cause food insecurity (not having enough food) in young children, and what changes could help fix the problem.
  • Who participated: Twelve experts from Brazil who work in different areas like health, education, social services, and government. These weren’t regular people being studied, but specialists sharing their knowledge about the problem.
  • Key finding: The research identified that food quality is the most important factor to focus on, and that supporting parents with better parenting help and daycare access could directly reduce childhood hunger. Two major cycles were found that make hunger worse: one involving money problems and emotional stress that feed into each other.
  • What it means for you: If you live in Brazil or work with children, this suggests that fighting childhood hunger requires looking at the whole picture—not just giving food, but also helping families financially, supporting parents emotionally, and improving access to daycare. This approach may be more effective than single solutions alone.

The Research Details

This study used a unique approach called participatory group model-building, which is like a brainstorming session with experts. Twelve specialists from different fields in Brazil (health, education, social work, and policy) met together to share their knowledge and experience about why children go hungry. They worked together to create a visual map called a causal loop diagram—think of it like a flowchart that shows how different problems connect to each other and create cycles.

The researchers didn’t do experiments or surveys with families. Instead, they used the experts’ combined knowledge to map out all the different factors involved in childhood food insecurity. They looked at how money problems, family stress, parenting practices, access to daycare, and government policies all connect together. The diagram included 28 different factors organized by something called the Nurturing Care Framework, which is a way of thinking about what children need to grow up healthy.

After creating the map, the researchers carefully studied it to find the most important factors to focus on and the best places where changes could make the biggest difference in reducing hunger.

This approach is important because childhood hunger in Brazil is a complicated problem with many causes all connected together. Simple solutions like just handing out food haven’t worked well because they don’t address all the underlying issues. By using systems thinking—looking at how everything connects—researchers can find the most effective places to make changes. This method also brings together people from different fields who normally don’t talk to each other, which helps create better solutions that work across the whole system.

This study has both strengths and limitations to understand. The strength is that it brings together real experts with deep knowledge of the problem in Brazil. However, the study is based on expert opinions rather than data collected from actual families, so it shows what experts think is happening rather than proving what is definitely happening. The findings are a starting point for understanding the problem, not final proof. The study was done before or during COVID-19, so it reflects that time period. Because only twelve experts participated, the results might miss some important perspectives, especially from families actually experiencing hunger.

What the Results Show

The research created a detailed map showing 28 different factors affecting childhood food insecurity in Brazil, organized into five main areas: health and nutrition, education, social protection, responsive caregiving (good parenting), and security and safety. The map revealed that food quality emerged as the single most important factor—it has the most direct connections to other problems and solutions.

Two major cycles were discovered that make childhood hunger worse over time. The first cycle, called the ‘Financial Hardships and Emotional Distress Spiral,’ shows how when families don’t have enough money, parents become stressed and emotionally upset, which makes it harder for them to care for their children properly, which then makes the family’s money problems worse. This creates a downward spiral.

The study identified that two specific changes could directly help reduce childhood hunger: improving parenting support and expanding access to daycare. These weren’t the only solutions, but they were identified as direct pathways that could make an immediate difference. The research also emphasized that strengthening these systems through national and local government policies could help families stay resilient when crises like pandemics happen.

Beyond the main findings, the research showed that emotional and mental health of parents is deeply connected to childhood food insecurity—stressed parents struggle more to feed their children. The study also found that social protection programs (like government assistance) and educational opportunities are important parts of the solution. Access to healthcare and nutrition information appeared as supporting factors that help prevent food insecurity. The research suggested that no single intervention would work alone; instead, multiple changes working together across different areas (health, education, social services, and government) would be most effective.

This study takes a different approach than most previous research on childhood hunger. While older studies often looked at single factors (like poverty alone or nutrition alone), this research uses systems thinking to show how everything connects. The finding that food quality is most important aligns with previous nutrition research showing that what children eat matters for their development. The emphasis on parenting support and daycare access builds on earlier studies showing these help children develop well. However, this is one of the first studies to map out all these connections specifically for Brazil’s situation, making it a new contribution to understanding the problem in that country.

This study has several important limitations. First, it’s based on expert opinions rather than data collected from families actually experiencing food insecurity, so it shows what experts think is happening rather than proving what definitely is happening. Second, only twelve experts participated, which might mean some important viewpoints are missing. Third, the study was done during or around the COVID-19 pandemic, so the situation might be different now. Fourth, the research doesn’t tell us exactly how much each factor matters compared to others—it just shows they’re connected. Finally, while the study suggests what changes might help, it doesn’t prove these changes would actually work if tried, because no intervention was tested.

The Bottom Line

Based on this research, here are evidence-based suggestions with confidence levels: (1) Governments should expand access to quality daycare programs—this has strong support from the research as a direct way to help. (2) Invest in parenting support programs that help parents manage stress and learn better caregiving skills—this also has strong support. (3) Focus on improving food quality available to families, not just quantity—this was identified as the most important factor. (4) Create policies that address family financial hardship and emotional support together, not separately—this has moderate support based on the identified cycles. All recommendations should be combined rather than used alone for best results.

This research is most relevant for: government officials and policymakers in Brazil working on child welfare and food security; organizations that run programs for young children and families; healthcare workers serving low-income families; and parents in Brazil concerned about feeding their children. People in other countries with similar situations (high childhood food insecurity with limited resources) may also find the approach helpful. This research is less directly applicable to wealthy countries with different food systems and safety nets. Anyone considering these recommendations should work with local experts and adapt them to their specific situation.

Realistic expectations for seeing benefits depend on what changes are made. If daycare access is expanded, families might see immediate benefits in their daily lives within months. If parenting support programs start, parents might notice improvements in their stress levels and parenting confidence within 3-6 months, with effects on children’s health appearing over 6-12 months. Breaking the financial hardship and stress cycle would likely take longer—probably 1-2 years or more—because it requires sustained policy changes and economic improvement. The most important thing to understand is that this is not a quick fix; sustainable improvement in childhood food security requires ongoing commitment to multiple changes over time.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track weekly food security using a simple 3-question check: (1) Did your child eat enough food this week? (2) Did your family worry about having enough food? (3) What types of foods did your child eat most often? Users can rate each 1-5 and note the main foods, creating a weekly pattern to see if food quality and quantity are improving over time.
  • The app could help users find and connect with local daycare programs and parenting support services in their area. Users could set a goal like ‘Attend one parenting support session this week’ or ‘Research daycare options in my neighborhood.’ The app could send reminders and track completion, helping families take concrete steps toward the solutions identified in this research.
  • Create a monthly dashboard showing: (1) Food security trend (improving, stable, or worsening), (2) Types of foods available to children (tracking if quality is improving), (3) Parenting support participation (sessions attended), and (4) Daycare access status. This long-term tracking helps families and workers see if the recommended changes are making a real difference in their situation over 3-6 month periods.

This research presents expert analysis of how childhood food insecurity works in Brazil and suggests potential solutions, but it does not provide medical advice or proven treatments. The findings are based on expert opinions rather than direct testing of interventions, so they should be considered as guidance for further research and policy development rather than definitive proof. If your child is experiencing food insecurity or malnutrition, please consult with a healthcare provider, social worker, or local food assistance programs for immediate help. This article is for educational purposes and should not replace professional medical, nutritional, or social services advice. The situation in Brazil may differ from other countries, and recommendations should be adapted to local conditions and resources.