| Autor: |
Wirtz AL; Department of Epidemiology, Center for Public Health and Human Rights, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.; Department of International Health, Center for Humanitarian Health, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA., Stevenson M; Department of Epidemiology, Center for Public Health and Human Rights, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA., Guillén JR; Red Somos, Bogotá 111321, Colombia., Ortiz J; Red Somos, Bogotá 111321, Colombia., Barriga Talero MÁ; Red Somos, Bogotá 111321, Colombia., Page KR; Department of Epidemiology, Center for Public Health and Human Rights, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.; Department of International Health, Center for Humanitarian Health, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.; Department of Infectious Disease, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA., López JJ; Red Somos, Bogotá 111321, Colombia., Ramirez Correa JF; Red Somos, Bogotá 111321, Colombia., Martínez Porras D; Red Somos, Bogotá 111321, Colombia., Luque Núñez R; Ministry of Health and Social Protection, Bogotá 110311, Colombia., Fernández-Niño JA; Departamento de Salud Pública, Universidad del Norte, Barranquilla 080003, Colombia., Spiegel PB; Department of International Health, Center for Humanitarian Health, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA. |
| Abstrakt: |
The causes and conditions of displacement often increase the vulnerability of migrant and refugee populations to food insecurity, alongside other material hardships. We aimed to examine the multidimensional aspects and patterns of food insecurity and other material hardships in a cross-sectional sample of 6221 Venezuelan refugees and migrants in urban Colombia using a latent class analysis. Using multinomial and logistic regression models, we investigated the demographic and migratory experiences associated with identified classes and how class membership is associated with multiple health outcomes among Venezuelan refugees and migrants, respectively. Approximately two thirds of the sample was comprised cisgender women, and the participants had a median age of 32 years (IQR: 26-41). Four heterogeneous classes of food insecurity and material hardships emerged: Class 1-low food insecurity and material hardship; Class 2-high food insecurity and material hardship; Class 3-high income hardship with insufficient food intake; and Class 4-income hardship with food affordability challenges. Class 2 reflected the most severe food insecurity and material hardships and had the highest class membership; Venezuelans with an irregular migration status were almost 1.5 times more likely to belong to this class. Food insecurity and material hardship class membership was independently associated with self-rated health, mental health symptoms, and recent violence victimization and marginally associated with infectious disease outcomes (laboratory-confirmed HIV and/or syphilis infection). Social safety nets, social protection, and other interventions that reduce and prevent material hardships and food insecurity among refugees and migrants, alongside the host community, may improve public health, support development, and reduce healthcare costs. In the long term, regularization and social policies for migrants aimed at enhancing refugees' and migrants' social and economic inclusion may contribute to improving food security in this population. |
