Nov 20, 2009 - Latin American population in Toronto. â Study ... Overall Immigrants and Latin Americans, Toronto .... 69% had a college or university degree.
Food Insecurity among Latin American Recent Immigrants in Toronto
Dr. Mandana Vahabi Daphne Cockwell School of Nursing
Dr. Cecilia Rocha School of Nutrition
Centre for Studies in Food Security Ryerson University
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November 20, 2009
Acknowledgements z
Funding sources – –
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Study participants Community centers – –
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Davenport-Perth Neighbourhood CHC COSTI Immigration Services
Research Assistants –
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Centre of Excellence for Research on Immigration and Settlement (CERIS) - The Ontario Metropolis Centre Ryerson University- Faculty of Community Services
Elizabeth Cristina Montoya Marcello Paolinelli Elsa Lopez
Daphne Cockwell School of Nursing Peer Review Committee
Agenda z z z z
Background Latin American population in Toronto Study Purpose Methods –
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Results – – – –
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Study design, data collection, analysis Socio-demographic characteristics Health related characteristics Food security status Perceived barriers to accessing food
Background z
Food insecurity is an important social determinant of health. –
Public Health Agency of Canada, 2004; Health Canada, 2007
“Food security is a condition that exists when all people, at all times, have physical and economic access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food to meet their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life” –
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1996 World Food Summit, Rome
Background z
People’s accessibility to nutritious food affects their health and management of health conditions Physical Health
Food Insecurity
• • • • • •
Decreased physical functioning Poor self- rated health Respiratory and gastrointestinal problems High blood pressure Hypoglycemia in diabetics Reduced micronutrient intake → Iron deficiency anemia • Increased body weight • Compromised health status among elderly • Learning disabilities among children
Mental Health
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• Anxiety • Emotional distress • Depression
Scope of Problem z
According to the 2004 Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) cycle 2.2 – –
9.2% of Canadian households were food insecure Higher rates of food insecurity among households z z z z z z
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receiving social assistance (60%) having low income (48%) having children less than 6 years (13%) having three or more children (15%) headed by female lone-parents (25%) formed by recent immigrants (15%).
Results may underestimate true prevalence: z
Survey excluded – –
z
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the territories, on-reserve First Nations people homeless people.
Regions with a greater proportion of recent immigrants
Latin American Population in Canada z z
Latin Americans (LAs) are one of the fast growing and relatively new visible communities in Canada. In 2006, more than a quarter of a million LAs were residing in Canada, –
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Ontario, particularly Toronto, has the largest concentration of LAs. –
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In 2006 about half (147,135) of LAs in Canada lived in Ontario and of those about 44% (64,860) resided in Toronto
Other provinces with high numbers of LAs include: – – –
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a 40% increase from 2001 for this population compared to 5.4% for the overall Canadian population.
British Columbia (Please check these) Quebec Alberta
Immigration Period for Population 15 Years and Older, Overall Immigrants and Latin Americans, Toronto CMA, 2006
% of Population 1
35% 28%
30%
32% 31%
25% 20% 15% 10% 5% 0%
17% 15%
20% 17%
19%
11%
9% 0.2% Before 1961
2% 19611970
19711980
19811990
Overall Immigrant population
19912000
Latin Americans
Source: Statistics Canada 2006 Census
– – –
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28% had immigrated between 1981-1990 32% had immigrated between 1991-2000 20% had immigrated between 2001-2006
20012006
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% of population 15+
Age Distribution of Total Population and Latin Americans 15 Years and Older in Toronto CMA, 2006 40% 30%
30%
31%
30%
34% 29%
24%
20%
15% 7%
10% 0% Total Population 15 to 29 years
30 to 44 years
Latin Americans 45 to 64 years
65 years and over
Source: Statistics Canada Census, 2006
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Latin Americans have a younger population compared to the total population (64% vs 54% between ages of 15 – 44)
Med ian Incom e
Median Employment Income for Total Population and Latin Americans in Toronto, 2005 35,000 30,000 25,000 20,000 15,000 10,000 5,000 0
30,034 23,728 16,722
18,853
Immigrated 2001-2006 Total Canadian Population
Latin American Visible Minorities
Source: 2006 Census, Statistics Canada
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•
Latin American immigrants reported to have lower median income compared to total immigrants ($23,728 $30,034).
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Income for new LA immigrants is below the low income cut-off point (LICO for a family with one person $20,778 (before tax)
Study Purpose
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To examine the extent of food insecurity and its determinants, dietary intake and perceived barriers and facilitators in accessing food among recent Latin American (LA) immigrants in Toronto
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This presentation focuses mainly on findings related to the extent of food insecurity and its determinants
Methods z
Design – cross sectional design
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Sampling: – –
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Target population/ eligibility criteria: – – – –
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A convenience sample of 70 adult LA immigrants Recruited from selected community centers across Toronto e.g. COSTI Immigration Services, Davenporth-Perth Neighbourhood Centre) and through snow ball sampling
Spanish/Portuguese speakers from Central/South and Latin America, Age 20 years or older, Primary household care givers in charge of household expenses including food purchase, Immigrated to Canada in the past 5 years
Data Collection Table 1: Health Canada Food Security Category Specification z
June 2008-October 2008
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Face-to-face interviews conducted in either Spanish or Portuguese
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3 Questionnaires –
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socio-demographic and self-reported health characteristics of participants (e.g. age, sex, marital status, education, household income, length of stay in Canada, number of people in the household, type of dwelling, knowledge of official languages, self reported health status and stress levels before and after immigration). 18 item CCHS 2004 Food Security Module z
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classifies households as “food secure”, “food insecure-moderate”- and “food insecure-severe”-during the previous 12 months
Self-reported dietary intake and perceived barriers and facilitators in accessing food
Category Labels
Category Description 10-Item Adult Food Security Scale
8-Item Child Food Security Scale
Household food security for Household with Children
Food Secure
0-1 affirmed responses indicating difficulty with income-related food access
0-1 affirmed responses
Both adults and children food secure
Food Insecure, Moderate
2-5 affirmed responses indicating compromise in quality and/or quantity of food consumed
2-4 affirmed responses
Either adults or children (or both) food insecure, neither severely food insecure
Food Insecure, Severe
≥ 6 affirmed responses indicating reduced food intake and disrupted eating patterns
≥ 5 affirmed responses
Either adults or children (or both) severely food insecure
Adult Food Security Scale Worried whether food would run out before getting money to buy more (in last 12 months) The food bought didn’t last, and there was not enough money to get more (in last 12 months) Could not afford to eat balanced meals (in last 12 months) In past 12 months, did you or other adults in household ever cut the size of your meals or skip meals In past 12 months, how often did you cut size of meals or skip meals? In past 12 months, did you ever eat less than you felt you should because there wasn't enough money to buy food? In past 12 months, were you ever hungry but didn't eat because you couldn't afford enough food? In past 12 months, did you lose weight because you didn't have enough money for food? In past 12 months, did you or other adults in your household ever not eat for a whole day because you did not have enough money? In past 12 months, how often did you or other adults not eat for a whole day? Child Food Security Scale Relied on only a few kinds of low-cost food to feed children (
