Armed Conflict in Central America and Immigrant Food Insecurity in the United States

Jeremy C Green,Eric Adjei Boakye,Ellen K Barnidge,Michael G Vaughn

doi:10.2991/j.jegh.2018.02.005

Abstract

Central American immigrants to the United States are a growing population with rates of food insecurity that exceed national averages. We analyzed multiple years of data from the Center for System Peace and the Current Population Survey, Food Security Survey Module, from 1998 to 2015. We used ordered probit and probit regressions to quantify associations between premigration residence in a country exposed to armed conflict in Central America and the food insecurity of immigrants in the United States. The study sample included 5682 females and 5801 males between the ages of 19 and 69 years who were born in Central America and migrated to the United States. The mean age of individuals included in the study sample was 38.2 years for females (standard deviation, 11.0) and 36.8 years for males (standard deviation, 10.6). Premigration armed conflict was associated with a 10.7% point increase in postmigration food insecurity among females (95% confidence interval, 6.8–14.5), and a 9.5% point increase among males (95% confidence interval, 5.0–14.0).

Highlights

Central American immigrants to the United States are a growing population [1,2,3] with rates of food insecurity higher than national averages [2,3]
We study postmigration food insecurity in the United States and its associations with premigration residence in a country exposed to armed conflict in Central America
In age-adjusted analyses for females and males, we found statistically significant, negative associations between premigration residence in a country exposed to armed conflict and postmigration household food insecurity, educational attainment, and household income

Summary

Introduction

Central American immigrants to the United States are a growing population [1,2,3] with rates of food insecurity higher than national averages [2,3]. Food insecurity among immigrant populations in the United States can be related to lack of education [5,6,7] and income [2,6], as well as the need to help provide for family members in countries of origin [6]. Some individuals migrate in order to escape harmful premigration conditions in immigrant countries of origin including food insecurity [8]. Previous research examining food security among immigrant populations in the United States include studies in California [2,7,9,10], Iowa [2], Massachusetts [5,7,11], Michigan [2], North Carolina [6], Oregon [2], and others [7,12]. These studies do not include data that describes variation in characteristics of the premigration environments of countries and regions of origins

Methods

Results

Conclusion