Patterns and Correlates of Nutrition Among Migrant Farm-Worker Children

Abstract

Past research has demonstrated a higher incidence of overweight children in migrant farm-worker (MFW) families than in the general U.S. population. This study provided descriptive data on MFWs’ acculturation, household food security, and general self-efficacy, and children’s food patterns and body mass index. Convenience samples of 60 parent–child dyads were obtained from six MFW camps in two Midwest states. Acculturation and food security were low, higher general self-efficacy was associated with low acculturation, and the majority of children did not meet their U.S. Food Guide Pyramid recommendations. It was noteworthy that 48% of the sample, including siblings (excluded from data analysis), was overweight or obese. The knowledge learned concerning the food patterns and correlates of nutrition in this descriptive phase of the DINE study will direct counseling to MFW mothers on the purchase and preparation of affordable, nutritious, and culturally acceptable foods to achieve healthy weight in their children.

Audio-Enhanced Tablet Computers to Assess Children’s Food Frequency From Migrant Farmworker Mothers

“…Compared with the general US population, this unique population shows wide-ranging deficits in education, literacy levels, fluency in English, and for our immediate concern, health status. 3 Children of migrant farmworkers are particularly vulnerable and show greater occurrence of obesity, while simultaneously experiencing insufficient culturally relevant health interventions in their communities and/or surroundings. 3,4 …”

“…3 Children of migrant farmworkers are particularly vulnerable and show greater occurrence of obesity, while simultaneously experiencing insufficient culturally relevant health interventions in their communities and/or surroundings. 3,4 …”

“…Past research investigating overweight in Latino migrant farmworker children has shown that incomplete or inaccurate completion of these instruments has prevented the ability to assess and score survey data that compromises analysis. 3,6 The impaired ability to score collected data impedes development and testing of culturally relevant interventions.…”

Summer Migrant Students Learn Healthy Choices Through Videography

“…Past research has shown that a paradigm exists with migrant families. These workers harvest produce to bring fresh fruits and vegetables to the tables of American families, and yet the children of migrant workers rarely meet the U.S. Department of Agriculture recommended minimum food group servings of fruit or vegetables; neither do they meet recommendations for grains, dairy, and meat (Kilanowski, 2012;Kilanowski & Moore, 2010). National surveys show that rates of unhealthy weight in Latino youth are higher than the majority population, but the Latino subpopulation of migrant farmworker children measure even higher (Kilanowski, 2010(Kilanowski, , 2012Ogden, Carroll, Kit, & Flegal, 2012).…”

Challenges in Community-based Research With Latino Migrant Farmworker Children and Families

“…Migrant parents who want to participate in health promotion interventions may not have the time after returning from the fields because they still need to wash, cook the evening meal, and attend to their children’s needs (Kilanowski, 2012). As for reimbursing participants for their time, gift cards may be given per institutional policy; however some remote areas may not have local stores that accept gift cards.…”