title: Food insecurity among Cambodian refugee women two decades post resettlement.
abstract: Resettled refugees have high rates of chronic disease, which may be partially due to persistent food insecurity. This study describes food experiences on arrival in the U.S. and current food security status and examines characteristics related to food insecurity in a well-established refugee community. Focus groups and a survey assessed food security status and personal characteristics of Cambodian women in Lowell, MA, USA. Multivariate logistic regression was used to examine relationships with food insecurity. Current rates of food insecurity are high. In multivariate models, food insecurity was positively associated with being depressed and being widowed, and negatively associated with higher income and acculturation. Early arrivers (1980s) had difficulty in the U.S. food system on arrival, while later arrivers (1990s-2000s) did not. Refugee agencies should consider strategically devoting resources to ensure successful early transition to the U.S. food environment and long-term food security of refugees.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition, The University of Massachusetts, 210C Chenoweth Lab, 100 Holdsworth Way, Amherst, MA 01003, USA. jpeterman@nutrition.umass.edu
authors.forename: Jerusha Nelson
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Peterman
authors.forename: Parke E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Wilde
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Silka
authors.forename: Odilia I
authors.initials: OI
authors.lastname: Bermudez
authors.forename: Beatrice Lorge
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Rogers
mesh_terms: D000069:Acculturation; D000328:Adult; D002160:Cambodia; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D005523:Food Supply; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D008404:Massachusetts; D008875:Middle Aged; D012036:Refugees; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017805:Widowhood