Child hunger and the protective effects of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and alternative food sources among Mexican-origin families in Texas border colonias.

摘要: Nutritional health is essential for children’s growth and development. Many Mexican-origin children who reside in limited-resource colonias along the Texas-Mexico border are at increased risk poor nutrition as a result of household food insecurity. However, little known about prevalence child hunger or its associated factors among Mexican immigrants. This study determines identifies protective with it two Texas areas. uses 2009 Colonia Household Community Food Resource Assessment (C-HCFRA) data from 470 mothers were randomly recruited by promotora-researchers. Participants near small towns South counties participated an in-home community assessment. Interviewer-administered surveys collected Spanish on sociodemographics, federal assistance program participation, security status. Frequencies bivariate correlations examined while random-effects logistic regression model backward elimination was used to determine correlates childhood hunger. Hunger reported 51% (n = 239) households this C-HCFRA sample. Bivariate analyses revealed that status select maternal characteristics, such lower educational attainment nativity, including composition, reliance friend neighbor transportation, purchase dollar stores neighbors, participation school-based programs. A smaller percentage programs (51%) alternative sources, 131 unable give their balanced meal during school year 145 summer months. In random effects (RE = small town), full-time unemployment, National School Lunch Program significantly odds hunger, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance (SNAP) purchasing decreased not only emphasizes alarming rates sample families, but also economic family well strategies reduced odds. It unsettling so many did participate programs, remained hungry. underscores importance identifying presence low-income increasing access nutrition-related resources. Hunger-associated inequities younger ages colonia residents likely persist across life span into old age.