Prevalence and risk factors of food insecurity among Libyan migrant families in Australia

Abstract

Background The burden of food insecurity remains a public health challenge even in high income countries, such as Australia, and especially among culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities. While research has been undertaken among several migrant communities in Australia, there is a knowledge gap about food security within some ethnic minorities such as migrants from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). This study aims to determine the prevalence and correlates of food insecurity among Libyan migrant families in Australia. Methods A cross-sectional design utilising an online survey and convenience sampling was used to recruit 271 participants, each representing a family, who had migrated from Libya to Australia. Food security was measured using the single-item measure taken from the Australian Health Survey (AHS) and the 18-item measure from the United States Department of Agriculture Household Food Security Survey Module (USDA HFSSM). Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify independent correlates associated with food insecurity. Results Using the single-item measure, the prevalence of food insecurity was 13.7% whereas when the 18-item questionnaire was used, more than three out of five families (72.3%) reported being food insecure. In the multivariable logistic regression analysis for the single-item measure, those living alone or with others reported higher odds of being food insecure (AOR = 2.55, 95% CI 1.05, 6.21) compared to those living with their spouse, whereas higher annual income (≥AUD 40,000) was associated with lower odds of food insecurity (AOR = 0.30, 95% CI 0.11, 0.84). Higher annual income was also associated with lower odds of food insecurity (AOR = 0.49, 95% CI 0.25, 0.94) on the 18-item measure. On both single and 18-item measures, larger family size (AOR = 1.27, 95% CI 1.07, 1.49 and AOR = 1.21, 95% CI 1.01, 1.47 respectively) was associated with increased odds of food insecurity. Conclusion This study provides evidence that food insecurity amongst Libyan migrants in Australia is a widespread problem and is associated with a number of sociodemographic and socio-economic factors. The findings of this study serve to contribute to the depth and breadth of food security research among vulnerable communities, in this instance Libyan migrant families.

Food Insecurity and Mental Health among Venezuelan Migrants and Refugees Living in Peru: Secondary Data Analysis of a Cross-Sectional Survey

“…The study revealed that nearly half of the participating Venezuelan migrants in Peru lived in households with moderate to severe food insecurity. Although this figure is higher than what has been reported in other studies of migrants in Portugal (10.7%) and Australia (13.7%) [9,33], even higher frequencies of food insecurity have been found in other populations, such as Haitian migrants in Chile (78%), Venezuelans in Trinidad and Tobago (86.6%), and refugees from Africa and the Middle East in high-income countries (40-71%) [34][35][36]. The differences in estimates of food insecurity between these populations may be due to the use of different measurement instruments, such as the Latin-American and Caribbean Food Security Scale [34], FIES at the individual level [35], and United States Department of Agriculture Household Food Security Survey [36], among others.…”

“…Similarly, in that same year, one in ten Venezuelan households reported skipping a full day of eating due to lack of resources [ 8 ]. In migrant households, causes of FI include lack of economic resources to acquire food and the absence of basic services (e.g., health and education) [ 9 , 10 ]. Relevant factors contributing to food insecurity among Venezuelan migrants in Peru are the lack of formal employment and job instability, which limit their income and capacity to purchase food, as well as the number of people living in the household [ 11 ].…”

Prevalence and socioeconomic determinants of food insecurity among Venezuelan migrant and refugee urban households in Peru

“…The causes of FI in immigrant households are multiple and complex, ranging from lack of economic resources to buy food to lack of access to basic health and education services ( 10 , 11 ). One report described some relevant indicators that explain the FI of Venezuelan migrants in Peru, including the lack of formal employment and precarious work, which limit their income and therefore their ability to purchase food.…”

A Food Relief Charter for South Australia—Towards a Shared Vision for Pathways Out of Food Insecurity

“…While population prevalence of food insecurity is not routinely measured in Australia [ 8 , 9 ], it has been estimated to be approximately 4% [ 10 , 11 ] and higher in several population sub-groups due to inequities [ 8 , 12 , 13 , 14 ]. In South Australia (SA), state government surveillance in 2020 identified that at least 8.5% of adults reported experiencing food insecurity in the past 12 months [ 15 ].…”