Social participation of food and nutrition security counselors

Objective: To know the sociodemographic profile and social participation of food and nutrition security counselors. Methods: Cross-sectional study conducted with members of municipal councils and the state council for food and nutrition security of Piaui, Brazil, between 2016 and 2017. A questionnaire was applied for identification of sex, age, schooling, skin color/race, and level of representation; segment and entity represented by them; time of participation in the Food and Nutrition Security National Council (CONSEA); theoretical-political training in food and nutrition security (FNS). The software Stata® was used to organize and analyze data. Variables were presented in numbers and proportions. For association between the variables, Pearson's chi-square test or Fisher's exact test was used, when appropriate, considering the tests with p-value ≤ 0.05 as statistically significant. Results: The study found 117 councilors from 16 municipalities and the (state) CONSEA. The majority were female (69.2%, n = 81), aged between 40 and 59 years (45.3%; n = 53). Moreover, 64.1% (n = 75) attained higher education, 87.2% (n = 102) worked in urban areas, and 35% (n = 41) had been working for the councils for 4 to 6 years. There was a statistically significant association (p=0.056) between participation in conferences and confidence in CONSEA's representation. Conclusion: There was a higher prevalence of female counselors, aged between 40 and 59 years, with higher education, from urban area and working for the CONSEA for 4 to 6 years. In addition, there was a high level of insecurity about CONSEA's representation associated with low participation in conferences.