Prevalence and risk factors of food insecurity among Californians during the COVID-19 pandemic: Disparities by immigration status and ethnicity

A Meta-analysis of the Prevalence of Food Insecurity Among People Experiencing Housing Insecurity and Homelessness in the United States

OBJECTIVES

Studies suggest that people experiencing housing insecurity and homelessness (HIH) have varying experiences with food insecurity. We estimated the prevalence of food insecurity and identified the factors associated with it among people experiencing HIH in the United States.

METHODS

We conducted a meta-analysis of the prevalence of food insecurity among people experiencing HIH and a systematic review of associated factors through a comprehensive search of 8 academic databases. We identified 3398 unique articles and included 40 studies in the review that met the following criteria: included observational or experimental data on the prevalence of food insecurity among people experiencing HIH, conducted in the United States, and written in English.

RESULTS

The overall prevalence of food insecurity was 57% (95% CI, 48%-65%). Most people experiencing HIH had food insecurity, and our estimated prevalence among people experiencing HIH was >4 times higher than the prevalence in the US population. Experiencing symptoms of a mental health condition (eg, depression, posttraumatic stress disorder, anxiety) in addition to HIH was most frequently (7 datasets) associated with increased odds of food insecurity. Social and institutional support was most frequently (5 datasets) associated with decreased odds of food insecurity.

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggest that multisector coordination is needed to address individual- and system-level factors associated with food insecurity and HIH.

Food insecurity trends and disparities according to immigration status in the US households, 2011-2021

BACKGROUND

Food insecurity related to immigration status remains largely underexplored. This study examined trends and disparities in household food insecurity by immigration status in the United States (US).

METHODS

We analyzed data from 427,942 households from the US Current Population Survey Food Security Supplement from 2011 to 2021. Immigration status categories included recent immigrants (< 5 years), long-term immigrants (≥ 5 years), naturalized citizens, and US-born citizens. Food insecurity was assessed using validated questions on consistent access to enough food for an active and healthy life.

RESULTS

From 2011 to 2021, food insecurity prevalence declined from 14.9 % (95 % CI, 14.5 %-15.3 %) to 10.2 % (95 % CI, 9.8 %-10.6 %). Among recent immigrants, prevalence decreased from 25.2 % (95 % CI, 23.1-27.4) in 2011 to 15.0 % (95 % CI, 12.8 %-17.2 %) in 2019, then increased to 17.7 % (95 % CI, 14.7 %-20.2 %) in 2020 and 17.4 % (95 % CI, 14.7 %-20.2 %) in 2021. Long-term immigrants' prevalence dropped from 20.4 % (95 % CI, 16.9 %-24.0 %) in 2011 to 10.2 % (95 % CI, 7.2 %-13.1 %) in 2018, then increased to 17.7 % (95 % CI, 13.7 %-21.7 %) in 2021. Naturalized citizens' prevalence decreased from 14.4 % (95 % CI, 12.9 %-15.9 %) to 9.5 % (95 % CI, 8.2 %-10.9 %). US-born citizens' prevalence decreased from 14.2 % (95 % CI, 13.8 %-14.6 %) to 9.7 % (95 % CI, 9.3 %-10.2 %). Compared to the US-born citizens, the adjusted prevalence ratio was 1.63 (95 % CI,1.57-1.69) for recent immigrants, 1.22 (95 % CI, 1.13-1.31) for long-term immigrants, and 0.94 (95 % CI, 0.90-0.98) for naturalized citizens. Significant disparities exist in subgroups.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings provide insights for stakeholders to address food insecurity among vulnerable immigrant groups in the US.

Impact of COVID-19 on the Health of Migrant Children in the United States: From Policy to Practice

In this article, the authors provide an overview how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted the health and wellbeing of migrant children in conflict zones, in transit and post-settlement in the United States. In particular, the authors explore how policies implemented during the pandemic directly and indirectly affected migrant children and led to widening disparities in the aftermath of the pandemic. Given these circumstances, the authors provide recommendations for child health care providers caring for migrant children to mitigate and bolster resilience and health.

Food Insecurity among International Migrants during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Scoping Review

The SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus and the measures imposed to control it have impacted food security globally, particularly among vulnerable populations. Food insecurity, in turn, has repercussions on health, exacerbating pre-existing inequalities. This scoping review maps the literature describing associations between the COVID-19 pandemic and food insecurity among migrants, with a particular view toward health. A total of 909 papers were extracted through four electronic databases, and 46 studies were included. The migrant populations described originated mainly from Latin America (11/46) and were located in North America (21/46). Most studies included refugees and asylum seekers (20/46). The main challenges described were financial hardship (28/46), the effect of migrants' documentation status on using public food aid (13/46), and the suspension of or reduction in humanitarian assistance due to the economic recession (7/46). The impact of food insecurity on migrants' mental and physical health was described in 26 of the 46 studies. Authorities in all destination countries should focus their attention and efforts into ensuring nutrition security for migrants in a holistic way, including their economic and legal integration, to be better prepared for health crises in the future.