Background: The Human Right to Food is not incorporated in the Chilean Constitution. Aim: To identify the legal, social, and nutritional elements for its incorporation into the new Constitution, and to draft a text proposal for the constituent discussion. Material and Methods: Descriptive and qualitative study on the perceptions of experts and key actors of the food chain in Chile. The sample was for convenience and included civil society, academia, international organizations, parliamentarians, food traders and producers, and national and local authorities (n = 26). The research team, previously trained and standardized, applied semi-structured online surveys, which were recorded and transcribed. Through an inductive approach, a thematic analysis was carried out using the Atlas.ti 9.0 software. Results: Eighty-one percent of the interviewees were in favor of the Constitutional incorporation of the Right to Food. According to interviews, a constitutional text was proposed considering the characteristics of adequate, healthy, safe, and nutritious foods. Also, the food items must be available, physically and economically accessible, and culturally relevant. A guaranteed citizen participation, food sovereignty, food security, and environmental sustainability must be considered. Conclusions: The high prevalence of malnutrition due to excess, poor diet, and food insecurity during the COVID-19 pandemic, and a current Constitution that does not explicitly guarantee physical and economic access to food, establish a factual and normative background that justifies the incorporation of this right in a new Constitution.

RESUMEN La pandemia por COVID-19 y las medidas sanitarias para su control han afectado la alimentación de las personas, lo que probablemente lleve a cifras elevadas de malnutrición en todas sus formas. El objetivo de este estudio fue describir las percepciones de un grupo de actores clave sobre el aseguramiento del derecho a la alimentación en contexto de pandemia en Chile. El presente es un estudio cualitativo realizado en Chile. Los/as entrevistados fueron seleccionados/as por conveniencia y con una visión transdisciplinaria. Se realizaron 26 entrevistas semiestructuradas online, durante septiembre y octubre de 2020. El análisis de los datos se realizó utilizando un enfoque inductivo y un análisis temático, organizando la información en el software Atlas.ti 9.0. Los discursos de las y los participantes permitieron obtener 4 temas: 1. Seguridad alimentaria en tiempos de pandemia, 2. Apreciación de las estrategias alimentarias gubernamentales, 3. Respuesta comunitaria a la pandemia y 4. Otras miradas para el enfrentamiento de la pandemia. Se concluye que el acceso a los alimentos es la dimensión del derecho a la alimentación más afectada en el país en pandemia. Se reconocen estrategias estatales para mantener la alimentación de la población, sin embargo, estas se perciben como insuficientes. Por otro lado, se destaca la relevancia de la organización comunitaria. Se hace necesario realizar un seguimiento sobre las acciones tomadas para garantizar el derecho a la alimentación en el país y conocer la experiencia de otros países de América Latina y el Caribe para prepararse para futuras crisis.

ABSTRACT The COVID-19 pandemic and the sanitary measures to control it have affected people’s diets, which is likely to lead to high rates of malnutrition in all its forms. The objective of this study was to describe the perceptions of a group of key actors on the assurance of the right to food in the context of a pandemic. This was a qualitative study conducted in Chile. The interviewees were selected by convenience with a transdisciplinary approach. We conducted 26 semi-structured interviews online, during September and October 2020. Data analysis was carried out using an inductive approach and a thematic analysis. We organized information using Atlas.ti 9.0 software. From the participants’ narratives, we obtained 4 themes: 1. Food security in times of pandemic, 2. Appreciation of government food strategies, 3. Community response to the pandemic and 4. Other perspectives for facing the pandemic. We concluded that access to food is the dimension of the right to food most affected during the pandemic. State strategies are recognized as maintaining the population’s nutrition; however, these are perceived as insufficient. On the other hand, the relevance of community organization stands out. It is necessary to monitor the actions taken to guarantee the right to food in the country and learn about the experience of other Latin American and Caribbean countries to prepare for future crises.

ABSTRACT Objectives: To compare maternal and perinatal outcomes between Chilean and Peruvian pregnant women in Santiago, Chile, between January and July 2017. Materials and methods: Analytical cross-sectional study of 1,578 Chilean and 318 Peruvian women who attended a clinical hospital in Santiago. We conducted a comparative analysis of maternal and perinatal variables by nationality. Crude and adjusted logistic models were carried out with a 95% confidence interval (95% CI). Results: Peruvian pregnant women resided an average of 5.7 years in Chile, were older (28.1 ± 6.5 vs. 26.6 ± 6.5 years), had less unemployment (52.3% vs. 60.6%), were more likely to enter prenatal care (PC) late (OR: 2.17, 95% CI: 1.69-2.78) and had higher probability of having anemia (OR: 3.45, 95% CI: 2.13-5.56) associated with late entry to PC (adjusted OR: 0.43, 95% CI: 0.33-0.56). On the other hand, Chilean pregnant women were more likely to be obese upon entry to PC (OR: 2.48, 95% CI: 1.81-3.41) and at the time of delivery (OR: 2.03, 95% CI: 1.57-2.62). In addition, Chilean women had higher rates of gestational diabetes (GD) (OR: 2.12, 95% CI: 1.24-3.61), premature delivery (OR: 2.82, 95% CI: 1.59-5.01) and low birth weight (LBW) (OR: 3.10, 95% CI: 1.51-6.33). In the adjusted model, obesity was independently associated with GD (adjusted OR: 3.8, 95% CI: 2.44-6.18) and LBW (adjusted OR: 3.34, 95% CI: 2.33-4.85). Conclusions: The healthy immigrant effect was observed in pregnant Peruvian immigrants, mainly regarding the perinatal outcomes. It is necessary to promote early access to prenatal care and to stablish measures to prevent anemia and obesity, in order to avoid adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes in the studied population.

RESUMEN Objetivos: Comparar indicadores materno-perinatales entre gestantes chilenas y peruanas en Santiago de Chile entre enero y julio del 2017. Materiales y métodos: Estudio transversal analítico en 1578 chilenas y 318 peruanas atendidas en un hospital clínico de Santiago. Se realizó un análisis comparativo de las variables materno-perinatales por nacionalidad. Se realizaron modelos logísticos crudos y ajustados con sus intervalos de confianza al 95% (IC 95%). Resultados: Las gestantes peruanas residían en promedio 5,7 años en Chile, tenían más edad (28,1 ± 6,5 vs. 26,6 ± 6,5 años), menos desocupación (52,3% vs. 60,6%), más probabilidad de ingreso tardío al control prenatal (CP) (OR: 2,17, IC 95%: 1,69-2,78) y de tener anemia (OR: 3,45, IC 95%: 2,13-5,56) asociada al ingreso tardío a CP (OR ajustado: 0,43, IC95%: 0,33-0,56). Las gestantes chilenas tuvieron una mayor probabilidad de obesidad al ingreso al CP (OR: 2,48 IC 95%: 1,81-3,41) y al parto (OR: 2,03, 1,57-2,62). Así como, de diabetes gestacional (DG) (OR: 2,12, IC 95%: 1,24-3,61), parto prematuro (OR: 2,82, IC 95%: 1,59-5,01) e hijos con bajo peso al nacer (BPN) (OR: 3,10, IC 95%: 1,51-6,33). En el modelo ajustado la obesidad se asoció en forma independiente a la DG (OR ajustado: 3,8, IC 95%: 2,44-6,18) y al BPN (OR ajustado: 3,34, IC95%: 2,33-4,85. Conclusiones: El efecto del migrante sano se observa en gestantes inmigrantes peruanas, principalmente en resultados perinatales. Es necesario favorecer el ingreso precoz a la atención prenatal, prevenir la anemia y la obesidad, para evitar resultados materno-perinatales adversos en esta población.

ABSTRACT Objectives: To compare maternal and perinatal outcomes between Chilean and Peruvian pregnant women in Santiago, Chile, between January and July 2017. Materials and methods: Analytical cross-sectional study of 1,578 Chilean and 318 Peruvian women who attended a clinical hospital in Santiago. We conducted a comparative analysis of maternal and perinatal variables by nationality. Crude and adjusted logistic models were carried out with a 95% confidence interval (95% CI). Results: Peruvian pregnant women resided an average of 5.7 years in Chile, were older (28.1 ± 6.5 vs. 26.6 ± 6.5 years), had less unemployment (52.3% vs. 60.6%), were more likely to enter prenatal care (PC) late (OR: 2.17, 95% CI: 1.69-2.78) and had higher probability of having anemia (OR: 3.45, 95% CI: 2.13-5.56) associated with late entry to PC (adjusted OR: 0.43, 95% CI: 0.33-0.56). On the other hand, Chilean pregnant women were more likely to be obese upon entry to PC (OR: 2.48, 95% CI: 1.81-3.41) and at the time of delivery (OR: 2.03, 95% CI: 1.57-2.62). In addition, Chilean women had higher rates of gestational diabetes (GD) (OR: 2.12, 95% CI: 1.24-3.61), premature delivery (OR: 2.82, 95% CI: 1.59-5.01) and low birth weight (LBW) (OR: 3.10, 95% CI: 1.51-6.33). In the adjusted model, obesity was independently associated with GD (adjusted OR: 3.8, 95% CI: 2.44-6.18) and LBW (adjusted OR: 3.34, 95% CI: 2.33-4.85). Conclusions: The healthy immigrant effect was observed in pregnant Peruvian immigrants, mainly regarding the perinatal outcomes. It is necessary to promote early access to prenatal care and to stablish measures to prevent anemia and obesity, in order to avoid adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes in the studied population.

RESUMEN Objetivos: Comparar indicadores materno-perinatales entre gestantes chilenas y peruanas en Santiago de Chile entre enero y julio del 2017. Materiales y métodos: Estudio transversal analítico en 1578 chilenas y 318 peruanas atendidas en un hospital clínico de Santiago. Se realizó un análisis comparativo de las variables materno-perinatales por nacionalidad. Se realizaron modelos logísticos crudos y ajustados con sus intervalos de confianza al 95% (IC 95%). Resultados: Las gestantes peruanas residían en promedio 5,7 años en Chile, tenían más edad (28,1 ± 6,5 vs. 26,6 ± 6,5 años), menos desocupación (52,3% vs. 60,6%), más probabilidad de ingreso tardío al control prenatal (CP) (OR: 2,17, IC 95%: 1,69-2,78) y de tener anemia (OR: 3,45, IC 95%: 2,13-5,56) asociada al ingreso tardío a CP (OR ajustado: 0,43, IC95%: 0,33-0,56). Las gestantes chilenas tuvieron una mayor probabilidad de obesidad al ingreso al CP (OR: 2,48 IC 95%: 1,81-3,41) y al parto (OR: 2,03, 1,57-2,62). Así como, de diabetes gestacional (DG) (OR: 2,12, IC 95%: 1,24-3,61), parto prematuro (OR: 2,82, IC 95%: 1,59-5,01) e hijos con bajo peso al nacer (BPN) (OR: 3,10, IC 95%: 1,51-6,33). En el modelo ajustado la obesidad se asoció en forma independiente a la DG (OR ajustado: 3,8, IC 95%: 2,44-6,18) y al BPN (OR ajustado: 3,34, IC95%: 2,33-4,85. Conclusiones: El efecto del migrante sano se observa en gestantes inmigrantes peruanas, principalmente en resultados perinatales. Es necesario favorecer el ingreso precoz a la atención prenatal, prevenir la anemia y la obesidad, para evitar resultados materno-perinatales adversos en esta población.