Social Determinants of Health and Food Spending Patterns Among Rural University Students: Role of Family, Environment and Government Support

Abstract Book of the 10th World Conference on Social Sciences and Humanities

Year: 2026

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Social Determinants of Health and Food Spending Patterns Among Rural University Students: Role of Family, Environment and Government Support

Prof Dr. Karla Isabel Colin Gonzalez, Victor Katsumi Yamaguchi Llanes

ABSTRACT:

This study analyzes the influence of social determinants of health (SDH) on the dietary patterns of 83 students (18-23 years old) from a rural community. The objective was to evaluate the allocation of the family budget to healthy foods versus ultra-processed products, integrating variables such as remittances and institutional support. The cross-sectional descriptive methodology used surveys to measure expenses, income, and access to social programs. The results show that only 2.4% receive federal financial assistance. Regarding transportation, 18% receive municipal support and 10% receive state support covering 50% of the fare. Due to a lack of scholarships, 37% of the young people work and 11% receive remittances from their parents or guardians abroad; however, the main source of income for most comes from direct family support. It was found that 22% of the participants allocate 35% of their budget to ultra-processed products, while 47% consider their ability to purchase and prepare food to be “fair.” The findings highlight that parental support and the availability of local products, such as eggs, milk, and legumes, are the main pillars supporting diet quality. It is suggested that nutritional education and food security policies be strengthened, leveraging these social determinants and the region’s productive capacity to consolidate healthy habits among rural students.

Keywords: Food Security, Nutrition, Social Security, High Education, Quality Of Life