Ethnic Research Articles

«МЫ ПОСЕЛЕНЫ МЕЖДУ ГОР…»: К ИСТОРИИ СЕЛА БАЛТА-ЧОКРАК В ЮГО-ЗАПАДНОМ КРЫМУ В КОНЦЕ XVIII – ХХ ВВ.

This article presents the history of the population of the village of Balta-Chokrak with the Southwestern Crimea, a settlement with different ethnic composition. Until the beginning of the XIX century, the village was inhabited by the Crimean Tatars, but subsequently Balta-Chokrak and its agricultural territories (cultural landscape) are bought to the treasury from the noblewoman Kalitsa Ivanovna Mazganina. After the Crimean Tatars leave the village and travel to the Ottoman Empire, a colony from Greek families who came from Anatolia is founded here. Instead of the mosque that existed in Balta-Chokrak Greek colonists build a church, and begin to actively develop agriculture. What is important, the article on the basis of archival documents and field research for the first time gave a reconstruction of the Crimean Tatar stage of the history of the village, presents the peculiarities of the structure of new immigrants, the difficulties that they had to face in a new place. The point of view established in historiography about Balta-Chokrak as a Greek-Bulgarian colony was also questioned and the features of the composition of the cultural landscape of Balta-Chokrak were revealed, the history of the construction in 1818 and subsequent rebuilding of the Panteleimon Church and the spiritual life of the colonists were detailed.

Approaches to Identifying health disparities by ethnicity using linked Australian Census data

BackgroundEthnicity is not collected routinely in Australian health data. Ancestry data is collected in the Census which is now linked to health data. We aimed to develop an approach to using ancestry data to examine health disparities. MethodsAn expert panel was formed with representatives from the Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Councils, Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) and researchers. The work was also informed by a community panel and yarning circles led by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander academics. We analysed 2016 Census data linked to death registrations for 2016-2021 in 20.9 million people and compared how different approaches to categorising ethnicity impacted on detection of health inequalities between groups. ResultsWe developed the following approach: (1) Recategorise those reporting Australian only or New Zealand only ancestry from the Oceania to the European category; (2) For those reporting two ancestries: prioritise ethnic minority over national identities (e.g. Australian) and for the remainder create multiethnic groups based on the combined ancestries; (3) First analyse data at the maximum level of granularity, but then collapse up granularity where no disparities are identified to simplify results and messaging. Analysis of mortality data demonstrated that these approaches improved identification of ethnic mortality inequalities. DiscussionWe developed a set of principles to use Australian Census Ancestry data to identify health disparities by ethnicity. The recommendations facilitate harnessing valuable Census data to identify important health disparities and better inform future health policy in Australia.

(Non-state) actors in internal bordering and differential inclusion: Syrian refugees’ housing experience in Turkey

ABSTRACT Turkey, as the largest refugee-hosting country, provides insights into the externalization of European borders and the internalization of its own borders. Oscillating between open-door and strict-border policies, alongside the political inactiveness of public authorities and CSOs governing Syrian mobility, Turkey reveals crucial dynamics. Focusing on Syrian refugees’ housing in a refugee hub of Izmir, this study unravels internal bordering and explores its rationales and the involvement of non-state actors. Syrian refugees encounter three internal bordering mechanisms affecting their housing inclusion: selective overpricing, ethnic filtering and arbitrary interrogations. These differential inclusion practices, led by market actors (landlords and realtors), ethnic networks, and street-level bureaucrats (mukhtars and municipal officers), are driven by the prevalence of anti-refugee sentiment in Turkey, where Syrians are perceived as unwanted or undeserving. The internal bordering mechanisms are rooted in ethnic, economic, cultural, and security-based rationales, influenced by the personal interests and socio-economic backgrounds of the involved actors.

US lakes are monitored disproportionately less in communities of color

Local‐scale environmental justice studies of freshwaters have found that marginalized populations are more likely than others to be burdened with poor‐quality waters. However, studies have yet to examine whether monitoring data are sufficient to determine the generality of such results at the national scale. We analyzed racial and ethnic community composition surrounding lakes and the presence of one‐time and long‐term (≥15 years) water‐quality data across the conterminous US. Relative to lakes in White and non‐Hispanic communities, lakes in communities of color and Hispanic communities were three times less likely to be monitored at least once. Moreover, as compared to lakes in White communities, lakes in communities of color were seven times less likely to have long‐term monitoring data; similarly, as compared to lakes in non‐Hispanic communities, lakes in Hispanic communities were nineteen times less likely to have long‐term monitoring data. Given this evidence, assessing the current water quality of and temporal changes in lakes in communities of color and Hispanic communities is extremely difficult. To achieve equitable management outcomes for people of all racial and ethnic backgrounds, freshwater monitoring programs must expand their sampling and revise their designs.

Racial and ethnic composition of peer recovery community members and barriers to acquiring funding for organizations in the ecosystem of recovery

IntroductionOrganizations in the “ecosystem of recovery”—most often non-profits led and staffed by individuals with lived substance use disorder (SUD) experience—offer peer services, group counseling, and a wide variety of programs to help those struggling with SUD. The efforts of such organizations are effective in transitioning those suffering from SUD into long-term recovery. Despite well-established evidence depicting inequitable access to SUD treatment between BIPOC and non-Hispanic White Americans, there has been no empirical undertaking of whether organizations in the ecosystem of recovery face barriers to fund their operations based on the racial and ethnic composition of their community members. MethodsIn this 2022 needs assessment, “Optimizing Recovery Funding,” we combined the results of quantitative and qualitative data for a mixed methods analytic approach. The study employs bivariate descriptive statistics and inferences along with thematic analyses. From an initial list of 537 organizations across U.S. states and territories, 145 leaders of these organizations comprise our survey analytic sample. A total of 85 leaders participated in one of 16 focus groups, with 10 based on geography and 6 based on population identity. This needs assessment produced comprehensive data on the operations of organizations in the ecosystem of recovery. ResultsA lack of training and existing organizational funding, as well as non-inclusive language in funding requests for proposals contributed to some organizations' decisions not to pursue certain grants and funding mechanisms. There were no statistical differences in applying for, nor success in receiving, federal and state funding between organizations serving predominantly BIPOC community members and those serving mostly non-Hispanic White community members. However, there were key instances of—at times inexplicable—inequity in funding outcomes. ConclusionsAll leaders of organizations in the ecosystem of recovery who participated in the needs assessment made it clear that there are fundamental issues to accessing peer recovery operational and programmatic funding. Innovative strategies for developing inclusive and culturally responsive funding approaches that prioritize organizations predominantly serving historically marginalized communities are needed.

Digitalised primary care in the UK: a qualitative study of the experiences of minoritised ethnic communities.

Barriers to accessing and using primary care services among minoritised ethnic communities have been extensively evidenced in the UK. However, the impact of the rapid digitalisation of these services on these communities remains under-researched. To explore the impact of digitalisation on access to and use of primary care services among minoritised ethnic communities. Underpinned by a critical realist intersectional approach, and employing qualitative research methods, this study explores minoritised ethnic individuals' experiences of digital primary care in the UK. In total, 100 minoritised ethnic adults who identify as Black African, Black Caribbean, Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani, Chinese, and of mixed or multiple ethnic heritage in four sites in the UK were purposively recruited and interviewed. Interviews were thematically analysed to increase understanding of how individuals' ethnicity intersects with other characteristics (for example, language, age, gender, socioeconomic status) to identify constraints and enablements to accessing health care. Minoritised ethnic individuals' access to digital primary care is impeded by factors such as digital precarity (for example, inadequate devices, internet connectivity, and digital literacy skills), a lack of language support, and staff shortcomings in responding to ethnically diverse populations. Intergenerational support and bespoke offerings by general practices in some areas enable some individuals to overcome some of the constraints. The rapid digitalisation of primary care services is replicating and potentially exacerbating barriers to using these services among minoritised ethnic communities, a finding that merits urgent attention by practitioners and policymakers.

Bridging realms: Western client perspectives on psychotherapy inspired by Indigenous healing

ContextThe decolonial turn in psychology criticizes conventional Western psychotherapeutic frameworks and seeks to decolonize therapeutic practices by considering diverse cultural perspectives. Indigenous healing has been increasingly used in the psychotherapy of ethnic communities, but also in the psychotherapy of Western clients. The research questions of the present study were focused on how Western clients experience the therapies inspired by Indigenous healing. ObjectiveThe study aimed to explore the motivations, experiences, and mental health outcomes of participants of therapies inspired by Indigenous healing with a focus on issues related to intercultural transfer of therapeutic practice. DesignSemi-structured qualitative interviews were used to gather narratives from 28 participants. Thematic analysis was used for data analysis. ResultsParticipants reported the following long-lasting outcomes of Indigenous therapies: increased well-being, calm, satisfaction with life, better emotion regulation, coping with stress, behavioral control, problem solving, decision making as well as a more sensitive and deeper experience of reality. Conventional Western psychotherapy was perceived as conversation-based, while Indigenous therapy was perceived as experience-based and more complex. The integration of experiences from Indigenous therapies was more difficult in the Western sociocultural environment compared to participation in the place of their origin, within the community of Indigenous people. ConclusionIndigenous healing has beneficial outcomes for Western clients, but the integration of these experiences is quite difficult and requires systematic psychotherapeutic support in the Western cultural environment.

Mental health awareness, stigma, and help-seeking attitudes among Albanian university students in the Western Balkans: a qualitative study.

The significance of mental health and its impact on overall well-being is increasingly acknowledged across various sectors, including higher education. However, despite this growing recognition, the stigma associated with mental health issues and related help-seeking, particularly within certain cultural groups and socio-economic contexts, continues to pose a formidable barrier to effective care, especially among university students. Addressing these challenges, this study explores the intricate interplay of factors affecting mental health awareness and stigma, including help-seeking behaviors among Albanian university students in three Western Balkan countries: Kosovo, North Macedonia, and Albania. By dissecting these multi-layered influences, this study aims to develop targeted interventions to enhance mental well-being and dismantle barriers to care in these regions. This qualitative study involved 60 Albanian university students from Kosovo, North Macedonia, and Albania, using focus groups to gather data. The discussions were structured around the socio-ecological model, facilitating a comprehensive exploration of the individual, interpersonal, organizational, and societal factors influencing mental health awareness, stigma, and help-seeking behaviors. Findings from the study indicate a moderate awareness of mental health issues among students. Familial and cultural stigma among Albanians in the Balkans hinder open discussions and access to professional help. There is a notable lack of support from higher education institutions, with only 20% of students reporting that their mental health needs are met. These needs include affordable and confidential counseling, empathetic faculty interactions, and a supportive campus environment. Additionally, there is a lack of continuous and professional help within the community. Societal attitudes deeply rooted in Albanian cultural norms and traditional beliefs perpetuate stigma, limiting effective health care and help-seeking behavior. The results emphasize the need for a culturally sensitive and holistic approach to mental health interventions that integrates strategies across multiple levels of the socio-ecological model. Enhancing mental health literacy, reducing stigma, and advocating for supportive legislation and policies in the Western Balkan region are critical. Moreover, the study highlights the urgent necessity for universities in particular to improve their mental health services, which will significantly enhance both the academic success and personal development of students.

Relational landscapes: environmental discourse and identity of the Sengwer community in Kenya

This article explores the intersection between landscape, worldview, African spiritualities and human-environment relations among the Sengwer ethnic community in Kenya. Documenting a range of indigenous knowledge expressions, the article examines narratives of landscape within the broader spectrum of environmental discourses and identity claims. It shows that among the Sengwer, cosmology and lifeworld are deeply intertwined, which recognises a multiplicity of sentient beings, only some of which are perceptible. The central figure bridging the seen and unseen worlds is the thunder deity Iilat, who shapes the moral code for the community. The Sengwer landscape not only provides them with food, medicine, water, honey, and shelter but also embodies their identity, history, memory, cultural and religious significance. Overall, the Sengwer identity is conceptualised as based on a relational knowledge that is a socially constructed process centring around the spiritual attachment to the landscape. This article therefore argues that the consideration of indigenous religious and spiritual knowledge sheds critical theoretical and practical light on African ecologies and human-environment relations. (This article is published in the thematic collection ‘African ecologies: the value and politics of indigenous knowledges’ edited by Adriaan van Klinken, Simon Manda, Damaris Parsitau and Abel Ugba .)

Learning while Walking the Streets of Rayong: Combining Linguistic Landscape and Language Awareness through Action Research with Children

This paper presents the outcomes of an action research study that implemented a linguistic landscape (LL) unit as an English language learning activity at the secondary school level in Rayong, Thailand. The theoretical framework employed in this study draws upon Lefebvre’s (1991) conceptualization of space, adapted for pedagogical purposes as explained by Malinowski (2015). The study places particular emphasis on cultivating students' awareness of the LL in their neighborhood throughout a six-week instructional session. The instructional activities were designed to investigate the potential of LL in enhancing English language acquisition and promoting cultural sensitivity. Data collection involved the utilization of questionnaires and on-site observations. Two main conclusions may be drawn from the action research project's findings. First of all, the students showed signs of a greater sense of familiarity with their neighborhood, which suggests that they are more aware of the LL around them and that they understand LL to be a useful instrument for language learning. Secondly, the students identified a discrepancy between the LL of Rayong and the city’s vibrant economic activity as well as its diverse ethnic and linguistic composition, suggesting that the existing LL does not adequately reflect these dynamic facets of the city.

The Impact of Digital Inclusive Finance on the Sustainable Growth of Income of Herdsmen in China’s Pastoral Areas

The sustainable growth of income for farming households in pastoral areas represents a crucial challenge not only for China but also for other developing nations in the process of transition to ecologically friendly models. The scarcity of assets available for collateral, along with vulnerable production conditions and developmental shortcomings, pose significant barriers to the consistent expansion of herdsmen’s income. This paper analyzes the impact of digital financial inclusion on the income of herdsmen in ethnic minority regions using panel data models from nine major pastoral provinces in China from 2011 to 2022. Through a fixed-effects model approach, the analysis delves into the influence of digital financial inclusion and subjects it to multi-dimensional and robustness tests to ensure the reliability of the findings. Furthermore, the research explores the underlying mechanisms through which digital financial inclusion contributes to income enhancement for herdsmen in these areas, employing mediation effect techniques to provide deeper insights into the relationship between digital financial services and economic upliftment in remote ethnic communities. The research findings indicate that digital financial inclusion has a positive impact on the income of herdsmen in ethnic minority regions. The breadth of coverage, depth of usage, and level of digitalization of digital financial inclusion all play a significant role in enhancing the income levels of herdsmen. In terms of the degree of influence, the impact of digital finance on the income of ethnic minorities follows this order: depth of usage > degree of digitalization > breadth of coverage. Notably, through financial backing that catalyzes a shift in herdsmen’s production methodologies and propels industrial upgrading, there is a profound potential to increase herdsmen’s output efficiency. This, in turn, alleviates the ecological strain on China’s environmentally delicate zones. Moreover, financial backing can condense the breeding periods for herdsmen, thereby ameliorating the ecological degradation associated with excessive grazing in pastoral regions. A mediating-effect analysis reveals that digital financial inclusion can boost economic development in ethnic minority regions by increasing wage income, raising per capita GDP levels, and promoting industrial structure upgrading. This, in turn, leads to an improvement in the income of herdsmen in these regions. This is particularly pertinent in China, where the eco-fragility of pastoral regions coincides with the modest income of herdsmen, underscoring the critical importance of herdsmen’s finance. To foster sustainable progress in these regions, financial backing is imperative to elevate herdsmen’s income and to induce a transformative shift in production approaches and industrial layout, paving the way for the sustainable development of these pastoral regions.

Responsive feeding practices among Arabic and Mongolian speaking migrant mothers in Australia: A qualitative study.

Establishing healthy feeding habits during infancy is crucial for optimal growth. However, certain parental feeding and cultural practices might hinder the development of children's healthy eating behaviours. This research explored responsive feeding practices among migrant mothers in Australia. Semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted in their native language with 20 Arabic and 20 Mongolian-speaking migrant mothers with children under 2 years old or currently pregnant. Thematic analysis was conducted using the framework method. Both cultural groups followed a variety of feeding practices, including on demand responsive feeding or structured schedules. Arabic-speaking mothers tended to demonstrate responsive feeding practices more frequently than Mongolian-speaking mothers, except for those using formula feeding, who consistently followed a fixed feeding routine. When introducing solid foods, mothers from both groups often overlooked their babies' hunger and satiety cues, frequently pressuring their children to finish their entire plate. One cited reason for this was the challenge parents faced in identifying such cues. Arabic-speaking mothers often supplemented with formula top-ups after introducing solid foods, due to the belief that breast milk or solid foods alone might not sufficiently nourish their infants. Additionally, some Arabic-speaking mothers used food-based rewards to encourage eating. Mongolian mothers expressed a cultural preference for chubby babies, a potential reason why they may have been inclined to pressure-feed their children. Moreover, both groups reported using digital devices to distract their children during meals. This study highlights the necessity of tailoring future resources and services related to responsive feeding practices to accommodate diverse literacy levels and cultural backgrounds.

Refleksi Budaya Etnis Tionghoa dalam Kesenian Barongsai di Kota Singkawang

The lion dance is a form of ethnic Chinese culture with a beautiful variety of motion and visual ornaments. The purpose of this research is to serve as a reminder of cultural preservation and inheritance. The primary reflection resources paired with Feldman's art criticism method include a historical overview, performance dynamics, ritual/celebration procedures, and cultural heritage. This study also provides a glimpse into and description of ethnic Chinese's effort to express cultural arts following a time of prejudice. The dissection is carried out utilising descriptive qualitative methodologies, with data collected through participant observation, in-depth interviews, and documentation. Triangulation of sources with ethnomusicologists validates the data analysed using an inter-academic model. Cultural reflection produced by Barongsai arts for ethnic Chinese includes reminders and awareness of evaluative materials related to the struggle for discrimination in the historical context, entertainment and sports functions in the context of performance dynamics, meanings and symbols of happy and sad expressions in the context of ritual / celebration processes, and sorting out incoming outside cultures for the younger generation in the context of cultura. It is critical and beneficial that the findings of this study serve as a vehicle and platform for future attempts to maintain and enhance the Barongsai art form. In addition, there needs to be support between elements of the ethnic Chinese community and the government so that the art of Barongsai can be preserved and developed in the future.

Ethnodemographic processes in Crimea at the beginning of the 21 century

The purpose of the study is to identify the features of ethno-demographic processes in Crimea during the first two decades of the 21st century. The work is based on statistical and cartographic research methods. The nature of ethno-demographic processes in the territory of Crimea in the period between the population censuses of 2001 and 2021, which saw a change in the political subjectivity of the peninsula, was determined by the growth in the number and share of the Russian and Crimean Tatar population. At the same time, there was a significant reduction in the size and proportion of the Ukrainian population, caused by both migration outflow and a change in ethnic identity. In addition, the study was able to identify an important spatiotemporal component of ethnodemographic processes in Crimea during this period – the increasing concentration of the main ethnic communities (Russians, Ukrainians and Crimean Tatars) in the southern part of the peninsula.

Uantitative approach to the ethnomedicinal study of the ethnic communities of Rangia subdivision, Assam, North East India

uantitative approach to the ethnomedicinal study of the ethnic communities of Rangia subdivision, Assam, North East India

Ethnodemographic Processes in the Border Regions of Asian Russia in the New Conditions of the Turn to the East

The analysis of ethnodemographic processes is relevant not only because of the negative demographic trends growing in the regions of Asian Russia, but also in connection with Russia’s turn to the East. The authors of the article give a detailed description of the modern ethnic composition of the population in the regions of the Ural, Siberian, and Far Eastern Federal Districts of the Russian Federation and the regions bordering them, those of Kazakhstan, China, and Mongolia. The object of the study were Russians, Kazakhs, Tuvinians, Mongols, and Chinese. Special attention is paid to the analysis of their number and location, and the identification of factors and consequences of changes in the ethnic composition of the population. A definitive feature of the border regions is the high proportion and absolute number of those peoples who make up the majority of the population of neighboring States. At the same time, the demographic behavior of the peoples living on different sides of the border differs. In studying the ethnodemographic processes, the increasing demographic asymmetry between the regions of Russia and neighboring states causes the greatest attention and certain concern. In the regions of the Asian part of Russia, the total population is decreasing, largely due to Russians who have a predominant model of reproduction of the population with a low birth rate and relatively high mortality. Kazakhs, Buryats, and Tuvinians in Russia are characterized by stable numbers and reproduction, although there is a tendency to decrease the birth rate. In the border areas of Kazakhstan, the tendency towards a decrease in the number of the Russian population and its replacement by a titular nationality does not weaken.

“Losing language is a loss of nation”: transnational movement to preserve Mon scripts in Thailand

ABSTRACT Nowadays, over one million Mon-speaking people live in Mon communities of southeastern Myanmar, and the Mon descendants live in Thailand and across various nations. This paper examines the transnational movements among the Mons in Thailand, the oversea Mons and the Mon migrants from Myanmar to preserve Mon written language. Based on documentary research and multi-sited ethnographic research in Thailand, this study has found that Theravada Buddhist monks who can read and write the Mon scripts play a major role as mediators between Mon communities in several countries and thus led to the establishment of a transnational Mon ethnic network. With the fear that the loss of the Mon language will inevitably result in the loss of Mon culture, there have been ethno-nationalist movements to preserve the precious Mon manuscripts and provide alternative forms of Mon language education to the Myanmar-Mon youth and migrants’ children in the Buddhist Monasteries of Thailand. Mon elites strive for Mon language transmission to the youth and children as well as taking steps to invent the fonts of Mon scripts and new applications to use Mon language in the new media. The findings shed light on their ongoing attempts to preserve the vitality of their languages in a variety of media and to transmit Mon-ness in the changing context of globalization.

Levels and functionality of Pacific Islanders' hybrid humoral immune response to BNT162b2 vaccination and delta/omicron infection: A cohort study in New Caledonia.

Pacific Islanders are underrepresented in vaccine efficacy trials. Few studies describe their immune response to COVID-19 vaccination. Yet, this characterization is crucial to re-enforce vaccination strategies adapted to Pacific Islanders singularities. We evaluated the humoral immune response of 585 adults, self-declaring as Melanesians, Europeans, Polynesians, or belonging to other communities, to the Pfizer BNT162b2 vaccine. Anti-spike and anti-nucleoprotein IgG levels, and their capacity to neutralize SARS-CoV-2 variants and to mediate antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) were assessed across communities at 1 and 3 months post-second dose or 1 and 6 months post-third dose. All sera tested contained anti-spike antibodies and 61.3% contained anti-nucleoprotein antibodies, evidencing mostly a hybrid immunity resulting from vaccination and SARS-CoV-2 infection. At 1-month post-immunization, the 4 ethnic communities exhibited no significant differences in their anti-spike IgG levels (p value = 0.17, in an univariate linear regression model), in their capacity to mediate omicron neutralization (p value = 0.59 and 0.60, in an univariate logistic regression model at 1-month after the second and third dose, respectively) and in their capacity to mediate ADCC (p value = 0.069 in a multivariate linear regression model), regardless of the infection status. Anti-spike IgG levels and functionalities of the hybrid humoral immune response remained equivalent across the 4 ethnic communities during follow-up and at 6 months post-third dose. Our study evidenced Pacific Islander's robust humoral immune response to Pfizer BNT162b2 vaccine, which is pivotal to re-enforce vaccination deployment in a population at risk for severe COVID-19. This trial has been register in ClinicalTrials.gov (ID: NCT05135585).

Assessing the acceptability of a culturally adapted group-based pediatric intervention, Kokajjiriri, for Marshallese mothers and infants to improve nutrition and prevent childhood obesity.

Marshallese Pacific Islanders experience higher rates of obesity than other racial and/or ethnic communities. Despite the obesity rates experienced in this community, there are currently no childhood obesity prevention interventions designed for Marshallese Pacific Islanders in the United States. The purpose of this study is to assess the acceptability and feasibility of a culturally adapted group-based pediatric intervention, Kokajjiriri, with Marshallese mothers to improve nutrition and reduce childhood obesity. A multi-methods design was used to culturally adapt the Kokajjiriri intervention for Marshallese mothers in Arkansas (n = 17). In phase one, we conducted 24-h dietary recalls with 20 Marshallese mothers to inform the cultural adaptation of the group-based pediatric intervention, and then in phase two, we culturally adapted and piloted three sessions of the intervention to determine the acceptability and feasibility of the intervention. Participants found the adapted intervention to be acceptable and feasible, found the location to be convenient and found the facilitator to be knowledgeable. Four themes emerged from the qualitative data: (1) Lactation Support; (2) Introducing Healthy Solids; (3) Rice Portion Control; and (4) Finding Resources. This is the first study to assess the acceptability and feasibility of a culturally adapted group-based pediatric intervention, Kokajjiriri, with Marshallese mothers to improve nutrition and reduce childhood obesity. The results from this culturally adapted group-based pediatric intervention, Kokajjiriri, will be used to inform future adaptations and implementation of the full intervention for Marshallese women and children.

Foreign Migrants in the Moscow Agglomeration: Spatio-Temporal Analysis Based on Mobile Network Operator Data

Using mobile network operator data, the study analyzes the modern ethnic landscape of the Moscow agglomeration formed by foreign migrants. Their total number and monthly dynamics from October 2021 to October 2022 were analyzed. Foreigners’ main areas of residence were identified, the ethnic diversity of municipalities was assessed, and the main types of settlement pattern of national-ethnic communities were identified. The study showed that the total number of foreign migrants in the agglomeration reaches 1.8 mln people, or 9% of the total population, remaining almost unchanged against the backdrop of the events of 2022, including the special military operation. The share of foreigners is minimal in closed administrative-territorial units (below 3%), and it is also small in the remote parts of Moscow Region, as well as in expensive areas of the capital. At the same time, eight municipalities in the agglomeration have crossed the 17% mark, the so-called tipping point, reflecting a sharp increase in the risks of interethnic conflicts and ghettoization of the urban space. The two most noticeable areas of increased concentration of foreign migrants have been identified in the southeast at the junction of Moscow and Moscow oblast (Lublino–Kotelniki) and in New Moscow (Mosrentgen–Sosenskoe). Calculation of the Ekkel’ ethnic mosaic index has confirmed the presence of pronounced interethnic contact zones here. Elevated index values were also noted in most areas of the center and southwest of the capital, which, with a lower share of foreign residents, is associated with a high density of office buildings, diplomatic institutions, and universities. Analysis of the settlement patterns of national-ethnic groups of migrants revealed three types determined in accordance with the adaptive capabilities of ethnic communities. A diffuse, relatively uniform settlement pattern is characteristic of both the largest ethnic groups (citizens of Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan) and those most culturally close to the local population (immigrants from Ukraine and Belarus). A concentric settlement pattern (in residential areas of Moscow and satellite cities) is typical of relatively large ethnic groups from post-Soviet countries (citizens of Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Georgia). The local type is characteristic of small ethnic communities that gravitate towards certain areas of the capital.