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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Mariana Chilton, PhD, MPH¹, Diana B. Cutts, MD², Stephanie Ettinger de Cuba, MPH³, Carol Berkowitz, MD⁴, Patrick Casey, MD⁵, John Cook, PhD⁶, Deborah A. Frank, MD⁷, Maureen Black, PhD⁸, Timothy Heeren, PhD⁹, and Suzette Levenson, MPH, MEd³. (1) Community Health and Prevention, Drexel University School of Public Health, 1505 Race St., Philadelphia, PA 19102, 1-215-762-6512, mmc33@drexel.edu, (2) Department of Pediatrics, Hennepin County Medical Center, 701 Park Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55415, (3) Data Coordinating Center, Boston University School of Public Health, 850 Harrison Ave., Boston, MA 02118, (4) Dept of Pediatrics, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, 1000 W. Carson Street, Bin 437, Torrance, CA 90509, (5) Department of Pediatrics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 800 Marshall Street, Little Rock, AR 72202, (6) Growth and Development Program, Boston Medical Center, 725 Massachusetts Ave., Mezzanine SW, Boston, MA 02118, (7) Department of Pediatrics, Boston Medical Center, 725 Massachusetts Avenue, Mezzanine floor, SW, Boston, MA 02118, (8) Department of Pediatrics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 737 W. Lombard Street, Suite 169, Baltimore, MD 21201, (9) Department of Biostatistics, Boston University, School of Public Health, 715 Albany Street, Tablot E424, Boston, MA 02118

Immigrant populations from the Americas have high rates of food insecurity and hunger. Most immigrant families are mixed status, where the youngest children are US citizens. This study assessed differences in well-being among immigrant families from Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean. Children included are US citizens who are entitled to participate in federal assistance programs. Since 1998, the Children's Sentinel Nutrition Assessment Program tracked food insecurity, health, and access to public assistance of children < age 3 in emergency departments and health clinics in 7 urban areas. Citizen children of immigrants from the Americas comprise nearly one third of the sample (5058/18,002).

Child food insecurity rates for children of immigrants are four times greater than rates among children of non-immigrants. Mexican households experience food insecurity at higher rates than Central American and Caribbean households, (45% vs. 28% and 30% respectively). Mexican child food insecurity (33%) is twice that of the other groups. Mexican and Central American children are more likely to be in fair or poor health. Although immigrant families infrequently access food stamps, participation in the Food Stamp Program is significantly associated with positive self-rated health outcomes.

Our results have important policy and human rights implications related to food stamp eligibility requirements, legislation regarding federal assistance programs, and legally binding articles regarding the right to a minimum standard of living as expressed in the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Covenant on Economic Social and Cultural Rights.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to

• Describe differences in food insecurity and well-being among immigrant households with infants and toddlers.
• Identify the association between food assistance participation, food insecurity and maternal and child well-being.
• Articulate policy and human rights issues related to immigrant participation in food assistance.

Keywords: Hunger, Immigrants

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No