Prevalence and experiences of food insecurity among immigrant women connected to perinatal programs at a community-based organization in Edmonton, Canada

Abstract

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate the prevalence of household food insecurity among immigrant women connected to perinatal programs offered through a community-based organization in Edmonton, and to explore their experiences in coping with food insecurity.Design/methodology/approachThis study utilized a mixed methods research design. A community-based participatory research approach was used to engage health workers who were connected to immigrant women and families through the Multicultural Health Brokers Cooperative in Edmonton. Through the health workers a sample of 213 immigrant women connected to their perinatal programs completed the Household Food Security Survey. Following the survey, 17 women completed semi-structured interviews which were analyzed using content analysis.FindingsThe vast majority of women (94 percent (n=199)) lived in food insecure households, and 53 percent (n=112) in severely food insecure. In semi-structured interviews, women specifically described not having enough money to buy vegetables, fruit and meat, and perceiving a lack of control over foods they ate and offered to their families.Practical implicationsThis study highlights the need for support to be provided to immigrant families for acquiring healthy food in Canada.Originality/valueThe mixed methods design with a decent sample of often underrepresented research participants highlights an area in need of further research and greater support.

Experiences of Food-Insecure Pregnant Women and Factors Influencing Their Food Choices

“…Food-related strategies included rationing meals and relying on nutritionally poor, yet affordable and satiating foods. This finding is consistent with another study that explored the strategies of food-insecure perinatal women (Quintanilha et al, 2019 ). Although several other studies have demonstrated that strategies such as these are employed by food-insecure mothers when not pregnant (Gross et al, 2019 ; McKenzie & McKay, 2017 ; Weinstein et al, 2019 ), the present study is the first in Australia to highlight that these methods are applied in pregnancy.…”

“…A second key finding was that food-insecure pregnant women were constantly aware of their struggles, always mindful of the threat of deprivation, a finding also evident in research by Quintanilha et al ( 2019 ). The omnipresent exhaustion that can attend the FI experience is heightened during pregnancy, when the importance of healthy eating is pitted against the practicality of affording it.…”

Food security in African Canadian communities: a scoping review

“…21 Findings from this review briefly describe how food access and food availability are implicated in the acceleration of dietary acculturation. 34,[36][37][38] Additionally, existing research has demonstrated how age, socioeconomic status, and the amount of time spent in Canada significantly influence dietary acculturation. 40 Likewise, dietary patterns -which include the quantity, variety, or combination of different foods and beverages in a diet, and the frequency with which they are consumed -have direct connections to food security, especially in relation to the consumption of meat, fruit, and vegetables.…”

“…[34][35][36][37][38] All studies involved participants who identified as immigrant, refugee, or migrant. [34][35][36][37][38] Specifically, two of the five studies included Somali immigrants and migrants, 36,37 two studies included African and Caribbean immigrant women, 34,38 and one of the five studies included participants described as African, Caribbean, or Black. 35 All studies focused on adults, who are classified as participants aged 16 years and older.…”

“…[34][35][36][37][38] Three of the five included studies involved mothers or women connected to a perinatal program. 34,37,38 Accessing sufficient, safe, nutritious foods in a timely manner was an issue for many African and Caribbean households with school-aged children. 38 Thus, it was reported that families often ate what they could afford or whatever was given 34 ; for example, women described occurrences of attempting to ration or ''stretch'' food by decreasing portion size, reducing meal frequency, or skipping meals entirely.…”