Risk of food insecurity in undocumented migrant households in Birmingham, UK

Abstract

Background This study aimed to understand the extent of household food insecurity amongst undocumented migrant families in Birmingham,UK. Methods Cross-sectional survey of households (n = 74) with dependent children using the USDA 18-item household food security (HFS) module. All households had an irregular immigration status and were accessing an immigration advice drop-in service (n = 98 adults; n = 138 children) in Birmingham. Results About 95.9% of households were food insecure, and 94.6% of children lived in households with low or very low food security. Food insecurity varied within households. Around 91.8% of adults were food insecure, compared to 75.6% of children. Spearman’s rank-order correlation indicated a statistically significant positive correlation between household food insecurity level and number of children (rho = 0.253, P = 0.031). A Kruskal–Wallis H Test indicated no statistically significant difference (P = 0.730) in HFS score between households supported by asylum support, children’s social services or paid employment in the informal economy and those that had no regular income. Conclusions Prevalence of HFS was higher in this sample of undocumented migrant households with dependent children in Birmingham, UK, than in the wider population, and larger households were more food insecure. Households without a regular income were no more likely to be food insecure than households with financial support.

Prevalence and socioeconomic determinants of food insecurity among Venezuelan migrant and refugee urban households in Peru

“…We found that approximately 40% of households in which Venezuelan migrants and refugees reside experienced MSFI. This finding is lower than that reported in studies of Venezuelan migrants and refugees residing in Trinidad and Tobago (86.61%) ( 16 ), in migrants and refugees from the Middle East and North Africa residing in the United States (40–71%) ( 21 ), in migrants from Haiti residing in Chile (78%) ( 22 ), and in undocumented migrant households in the United Kingdom (94.6%) ( 23 ), while it was higher than that reported in studies conducted in Libyan migrant families in Australia (13.7%) ( 11 ) and in migrants residing in Portugal ( 24 ). The differences between the prevalence of FI reported in our study and studies conducted in various regions of the world could be due to the use of the instruments (Latin American and Caribbean Food Security Scale [ELCA], United States Department of Agriculture Household Food Security Survey Module [USDA HFSSM], and Ten-item Radimer/Cornell Hunger Scale) that differ from the FIES and the unit of analysis, since the studies conducted in Trinidad and Tobago, the United States, Chile and Portugal assessed FI at the individual level.…”

The “PERSPECS” principles: early action and migrant children with no recourse to public funds

“…There is a growing evidence base on the impact of the NRPF rule, suggesting that children and families with NRPF face particular barriers in accessing support services (Farmer, 2017(Farmer, , 2021Dixon, 2019) and are at particular risk of poverty (Jolly, 2022), but that local specialist support services can help (Kerr and Watts, 2022;Jolly and Gupta, 2022). Early action approaches should engage with this research to embed the learning into practice.…”

“…Data from the Home Office reveal an eightfold increase in applications for suspensions of the NRPF condition between the first and second quarters of 2020 (Home Office, 2020). For people who are subject to the NRPF rule, lack of access to social protection can increase the risk of poverty and food insecurity (Jolly, 2022), particularly for those who do not have the right to work in the UK because of their immigration status (Farmer, 2020). This frequently results in destitution, defined by the Immigration and Asylum Act (1999) as when someone: does not have adequate accommodation or any means of obtaining it (whether or not their other essential living needs are met); or has adequate accommodation or the means of obtaining it but cannot meet their other essential living needs (Home Office, 2021) …”

Socio-demographic, migratory and health-related determinants of food insecurity among Venezuelan migrants in Peru

“…In contrast, the lowest rates were found in Pennsylvania, where only 8•2 % had FI (8) . In England, 95•9 % of migrant households in Birmingham had FI, and 94•6 % of children lived in households with low or very low food security (37) . The causes of the variation between the prevalence of FI in this country and that reported in the present study are multifactorial, such as the inclusion of not only migrants but also refugees or seasonal agricultural workers and the use of different instruments and cut-off points to assess FI.…”