Margaret Kersey|Joni Geppert|Diana Cutts
Hunger in young children of Mexican immigrant families
Hennepin County Medical Center|Hennepin County Medical Center|Hennepin County Medical Center
measure rates hunger food insecurity among young usborn latino children mexican immigrant parents latinos compared nonimmigrant nonlatino population nonlatinos lowincome clinic populationa repeated crosssectional survey 4278 caregivers children 3 years age paediatric clinic urban county hospital 5year period 1998 2003 total 1310 respondents usborn child least one parent born mexico compared reference group comprised nonlatino usborn participants n 1805 child hunger household food insecurity determined us household food security scaleyoung latino children much higher rates child hunger nonlatinos 68 versus 05 latino families also higher rates household food insecurity nonlatinos 531 versus 156 latino children remained much likely hungry odds ratio 130 95 confidence interval ci 59287 p 001 household foodinsecure households 66 95 ci 5283 p 001 nonlatinos controlling following variables multivariate analysis childs age sex maternal education level singleheaded household status family size young maternal age 21 years food stamp programme participation tanf temporary assistance needy families welfare programme participation wic women infants children usage reason clinic visit sick visit versus wellchildyoung children mexican immigrant families especially high risk hunger household food insecurity compared nonimmigrant nonlatino patients lowincome paediatric clinic