Food Insecurity and Associated Factors Among Migrants Residing In The Agora District of Konak, Izmir, Türkiye: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Purpose: This study aims to evaluate the prevalence of food insecurity among immigrants residing in the Agora district of Konak, Izmir and to identify the key factors associated with this condition. Material and Methods: In this cross-sectional study (January-April 2022), face-to-face interviews were conducted in 300 immigrant households. Food insecurity was evaluated using two instruments: the Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES-SM) and the Nutrition Survey of the Elderly in New York State (NSENY). Data analysis included Logistic Regression, Student’s t-test and Chi-square. Results: The mean age of the participants was 37.1 years, and 94.3% were female. According to the NSENY, the prevalence of food insecurity reached 87.0%, with 39.0% of participants categorized as experiencing severe food insecurity based on the FIES-SM. Logistic regression results indicated that unemployment or irregular employment of the household head increased the risk of food insecurity by 3.7 times according to NSENY (95% CI, p=0.011) and 3.3 times according to FIES-SM (95% CI, p=0.047). Low income perception was the strongest predictor, increasing the risk by 10.7 (95% CI, p<0.001) and 8.1 times (95% CI, p<0.001), respectively. Additionally, language proficiency (2.6 times), low education level (1.9 times, 95% CI, p=0.028), lack of a diploma (4.0 times, 95% CI, p=0.001), and poor health perception (1.7 times, 95% CI, p=0.045) were identified as significant risk factors. Conclusion: Food insecurity is critically high in Agora; urgent social empowerment is required to address risks stems from economic, educational, and language proficiency factors. Keywords: Immigrants, Food Insecurity, Public Health

Keywords

• Immigrants
• Food Insecurity
• Public Health

Supporting Institution

Institutional permission for the implementation of this research was granted by the Foundation for the Support of Women’s Work (KEDV). The authors received no specific financial grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors for this research.

Ethical Statement

Ethical approval for this study was obtained from the Dokuz Eylül University Non-Interventional Research Ethics Committee (Date: 05.01.2022, Decision No: 2022/01-30)

Thanks

We would like to thank the Foundation for the Support of Women’s Work (KEDV) for their institutional permission and support throughout the fieldwork. We extend our special gratitude to the interpreter for their voluntary contribution to the interview process, provided without any financial compensation. Finally, we thank all participants for their valuable cooperation and the time they shared for this study.

Food Insecurity and Associated Factors Among Migrants Residing In The Agora District of Konak, Izmir, Türkiye: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Amaç: Bu çalışma, İzmir'in Konak ilçesi Agora bölgesinde yaşayan göçmenler arasındaki gıda güvencesizliği prevalansını değerlendirmeyi ve bu durumla ilişkili temel faktörleri belirlemeyi amaçlamaktadır. Gereç ve Yöntem: Bu kesitsel çalışmada (Ocak-Nisan 2022), 300 göçmen hanehalkı ile yüz yüze görüşmeler gerçekleştirilmiştir. Gıda güvencesizliği iki araç kullanılarak değerlendirilmiştir: Gıda Güvencesizliği Deneyim Ölçeği (FIES-SM) ve New York Eyaleti Yaşlı Beslenme Anketi (NSENY). Veri analizi Lojistik Regresyon, Student t-testi ve Ki-kare testlerini içermiştir. Bulgular: Katılımcıların yaş ortalaması 37,1 olup, %94,3'ü kadındır. NSENY'ye göre gıda güvencesizliği prevalansı %87,0'ye ulaşmış; FIES-SM'ye göre ise katılımcıların %39,0'u şiddetli gıda güvencesizliği yaşayanlar olarak kategorize edilmiştir. Lojistik regresyon sonuçları, hane reisinin işsiz olmasının veya düzensiz çalışmasının gıda güvencesizliği riskini NSENY'ye göre 3,7 kat (%95 GA, p=0,011), FIES-SM'ye göre ise 3,3 kat (%95 GA, p=0,047) artırdığını göstermiştir. Düşük gelir algısı, riski sırasıyla 10,7 kat (%95 GA, p<0,001) ve 8,1 kat (%95 GA, p<0,001) artırarak en güçlü belirleyici olmuştur. Ayrıca dil yeterliliği (2,6 kat), düşük eğitim düzeyi (1,9 kat, %95 GA, p=0,028), diploma eksikliği (4,0 kat, %95 GA, p=0,001) ve kötü sağlık algısı (1,7 kat, %95 GA, p=0,045) anlamlı risk faktörleri olarak saptanmıştır. Sonuç: Agora'da gıda güvencesizliği kritik derecede yüksektir; ekonomik, eğitimsel ve dil yeterliliği faktörlerinden kaynaklanan risklerin ele alınması için acil sosyal güçlendirme gereklidir. Anahtar Kelimeler: Göçmenler, Gıda Güvencesizliği, Halk Sağlığı

Keywords

• göçmenler
• gıda güvencesizliği
• halk sağlığı

Supporting Institution

Bu araştırmanın uygulanmasına yönelik kurumsal izin Kadın Emeğini Değerlendirme Vakfı (KEDV) tarafından sağlanmıştır. Bu çalışma için kamu, ticari veya kâr amacı gütmeyen herhangi bir finansman kuruluşundan özel bir mali destek almadığımızı belirtir, destekleri için ilgili kurumlara teşekkür ederiz.

Ethical Statement

Bu çalışma için etik onay, Dokuz Eylül Üniversitesi Girişimsel Olmayan Araştırmalar Etik Kurulu'ndan alınmıştır (Tarih: 05.01.2022, Karar No: 2022/01-30).

Thanks

Saha çalışması sürecindeki kurumsal izin ve destekleri için Kadın Emeğini Değerlendirme Vakfı (KEDV)'na teşekkür ederiz. Görüşme sürecine herhangi bir maddi karşılık beklemeksizin, gönüllü olarak katkı sağlayan tercümana özel şükranlarımızı sunar, son olarak veri toplama sürecindeki değerli iş birlikleri ve ayırdıkları zaman için tüm katılımcılara teşekkür ederiz.

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