Hunger and health among undocumented Mexican migrants in a US urban area

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Craig Hadley, Emory University; Sandro Galea, University of Michigan; Vijay Nandi, New York Academy of Medicine; Arijit Nandi, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health; Gerald Lopez, New York University School of Law; Stacey Strongarone, New York University School of Law; Danielle Ompad, New York Academy of Medicine
• Language: English
• Date: 2008-02
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Publication Version: Final Published Version
• Copyright Statement: © The Authors 2007
• License: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International
• Final Published Version (URL): https://doi.org/10.1017/S1368980007000407
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: Public Health Nutrition
• Volume: 11
• Issue: 2
• Start Page: 151
• End Page: 158
• Grant/Funding Information: Funding for this project came from the National Institutes of Health award DA 017642.
• Keywords: acculturation; immigrants; food insufficiency; food insecurity
• Research Categories: Sociology, Public and Social Welfare; Health Sciences, Nutrition

Abstract

Objectives To measure the occurrence and correlates of hunger and to evaluate the association between hunger and three health indicators among undocumented Mexican immigrants. Design Non-probability cross-sectional sample. Setting Neighbourhoods within New York City. Subjects Four hundred and thirty-one undocumented Mexican immigrants living in the USA. Results Hunger was indicated by approximately 28% of respondents. In a multivariate model, working as a day labourer was associated with hunger (odds ratio (OR) 3.33, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.83–6.06) while receiving public assistance protected against hunger (OR 0.23, 95% CI 0.06–0.88). In multivariate models, respondents who reported experiencing hunger also reported poorer overall health (OR 1.69, 95% CI 0.95–3.02) and more days of poor mental (P = 0.045) and physical health (P < 0.0001). Greater amount of time lived in the USA was also associated with worse overall health (P = 0.054) and more days of poor mental and physical health (P < 0.01). Conclusions The present study shows that food insecurity and hunger may be problems among undocumented migrants living in the USA. Uncertain and unpredictable work schedules and limited access to public assistance may contribute to high levels of hunger, which in turn may also negatively affect mental and physical health. Increasing amount of time lived in the USA is also associated with poorer health indicators. Programmes that provide undocumented migrants with emergency access to resources may reduce food insecurity and lead to improved health outcomes among this vulnerable population.