Food insecurity is associated with acculturation and social networks in Puerto Rican households
Dhokarh, R.; Himmelgreen, D.A.; Peng, Y.-K.; Segura-Pérez, S.; Hromi-Fiedler, A.; Pérez-Escamilla, R.
Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior 43(4): 288-294
2011
ISSN/ISBN: 1878-2620 PMID: 20952259 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneb.2009.11.004Document Number: 561000
To examine whether acculturation and social networks influence household food insecurity in an inner-city Puerto Rican community. A survey was administered to 200 low-income female Puerto Rican caregivers with at least 1 child 12-72 months old living in Hartford, CT. Food insecurity was measured with the Radimer/Cornell Hunger Scale. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to identify food insecurity risk factors. Significant food insecurity risk factors included: being unemployed (odds ratio: 2.69), being single (2.34), being born in the United States (2.68), speaking only Spanish (3.15), planning to return to Puerto Rico (4.58), almost never/never attending Hispanic cultural events (6.85), and food stamps lasting less than a month (7.74). Low levels of acculturation, lack of social networks, and poor food stamps management skills may influence household food insecurity.
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