Jigna M. Dharod

Dietary Intake, Food Security, and Acculturation Among Somali Refugees in the United States: Results of a Pilot Study

The pilot study was conducted to test the appropriateness of a nutrition and food security survey and estimate the prevalence of food security and its relationship with dietary intake habits among Somali refugees (n = 35) resettled in the United States. The other main objective was to estimate the association between acculturation and dietary intake habits. The interviews with the Somali mothers indicated that 72% of households were food insecure and, in comparison, the intake of fruits and green leafy vegetables was significantly lower among the food insecure households than among secure households (p < .05). Both of the acculturation indicators used in this survey, living in the United States for four years or more and having English language proficiency, were associated with a high intake of snack items among participants. Future studies examining the influence of food security and acculturation on health outcomes such as body weight are warranted among refugees in the United States.

Bhutanese Refugees in the United States: Their Dietary Habits and Food Shopping Practices Upon Resettlement

Three household observations and semistructured interviews (n = 14) were conducted with Bhutanese refugee mothers to understand food shopping and dietary practices in this group of the refugee populations. Participants were recruited through a resettlement agency and snowballing techniques. Observation results indicated that steaming and stir-frying were common cooking methods and spices such as green chilies, turmeric, and fenugreek seeds were used commonly in seasoning. All the interview participants received Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits and went to multiple stores for food shopping. Semistructured interview results indicated that Bhutanese women continued preparing traditional meals of rice, vegetables, lentil, or meat curry and fresh pickle.

Lifestyle and Food-Related Challenges Refugee Groups Face Upon Resettlement: Do we Have to Move Beyond Job and Language Training Programs?

An exploratory qualitative study was conducted to assess lifestyle and food-related changes that refugees experience upon resettlement in the United States. A convenience sample including 18 refugee women and 5 refugees who were physicians prior to resettlement was interviewed. Overall, loss of social network, poor physical activity, and stress related to household expenditures were identified as major issues of resettlement lifestyle. Participants reported increase in intake of meat, soda/fruit drinks, and dairy after moving to the United States. Results also indicated that in contrast to daily, need-based food shopping, participants had to train themselves to do weekly or planned food shopping. In addition to job and language training, resettlement programs should focus on providing skills to adapt to nuances of the host countrys infrastructure.

What changes upon resettlement: understanding difference in pre- and post-resettlement dietary habits among South-Asian refugees.

This study was conducted with the Montagnard refugee women (n = 42) to understand their pre-resettlement living conditions and estimate pre- and post-resettlement differences in their intake of major food groups. In-depth interviews were conducted with the participants in their homes by multilingual Montagnard women fluent in English and their tribal languages. Most of the participants did not receive education and 39% reported household incomes of

Predictors and outcomes of excess gestational weight gain among low-income pregnant women

500 or less per month. Participants had a very limited or no experience in weekly food shopping and budgeting before moving to the United States. In comparison of food habits, intake of different types of meat increased upon resettlement (P < .05). Pre-resettlement food shortage experience and receiving ≥

When Community Calls, We Collaborate! Community-Based Participatory Research With the Multilanguage Montagnard Refugee Community

500 in SNAP increased the odds of high meat intake. Due to a significant shift in food choices and environment, refugees are at a higher risk of experiencing poor health after moving to the United States.

Implementation of a WIC clinic farmers’ market improves accessibility and consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables among WIC farmers’ market nutrition program participants

ABSTRACT Low-income women were interviewed and their post-natal records were retrieved (n = 160) to assess prevalence of excess gestational weight gain and its socio-demographic predictors. More than half of the women (64%) gained excess weight during pregnancy, with an average of 10 lbs in excess of Institute of Medicine guidelines. Logistic regression indicated that women that started pregnancy at an obese body mass index; who were African American or having an unplanned pregnancy were at significant risk of gaining excess weight in pregnancy. Intervention to prevent excess weight gain during pregnancy is critical in addressing obesity epidemic in the United States and worldwide.

Evaluating the Implementation of a Farmers’ Market Targeting WIC FMNP Participants

Abstract:Background: Montagnard refugees, an indigenous multilingual tribal people from Vietnam, experience lifestyle changes and post-resettlement challenges in the United States that contribute to chronic health conditions. Foundational research and health data are lacking.Objectives: We describe the Montagnard Hypertension Study, a community-based participatory research (CBPR) project documenting chronic disease risk.Methods: We developed a Montagnard dictionary of hypertension-specific terminology and conducted two focus group discussions (FGD), 131 biological assessments (blood pressure, height, weight, waist circumference, scalp hair and saliva sample collection), and 127 behavioral surveys. We implemented two health fairs that offered services to the community.Lessons Learned: This is the first study to examine chronic disease using a CBPR framework for Montagnard health. We highlight lessons learned specific to constituents and their capacities, historical and current conflicts, and the iterative processes in CBPR design.Conclusions: CBPR is a practically achievable approach to studying chronic disease risk within indigenous, tribal communities, with implications for future research with Asian American subgroups and other minority populations.

Food Insecurity: Its Relationship to Dietary Intake and Body Weight among Somali Refugee Women in the United States.

ABSTRACT Few data are available concerning the socio-demographic characteristics and fruit and vegetable (F&V) purchasing behaviors of visitors attending the farmers’ markets sponsored by the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Farmers’ Market Food and Nutrition Program (FMNP). The objectives of this cross-sectional study were to compare socio-demographics, food purchasing behaviors, and motivators for visiting a new WIC-based farmers’ market among convenience samples of WIC FMNP participants (n = 124, 30%) and non-participants (n = 291, 70%) using a customer survey (n = 415). Frequency counts and percentages were obtained while independent t-tests and Chi-square were carried out to compare WIC FMNP participants to non-WIC participants (p ≤ 0.05). The age range of most (62%) of the visitors was 25–54 and the majority were female (91%). The primary motivators for market attendance included variety of F&V (76%), quality of F&V (55%), and to purchase food grown locally (59%). The majority of the total sample agreed (88%) that shopping at the WIC-based farmers’ market increased their F&V consumption. WIC FMNP participants were further motivated by low prices (44%) and the ability to easily spend FMNP coupons (75%). Additionally, the study finds that location and convenience play a critical role in increasing FMNP coupon redemption rates.

Food Insecurity and Budgeting Among Liberians in the US: How are They Related to Socio-demographic and Pre-resettlement Characteristics

The present study planned and implemented a new farmers’ market (FM) at a WIC (Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children) clinic in North Carolina, of which WIC FM Nutrition Program (FMNP) participants were the main priority population. The purpose of this FM was to provide convenience and improve access to locally grown fresh fruits and vegetables in the community and to increase the FMNP coupon redemption rate. The main objective of this study was to describe the overall process and key strategies involved in implementing a FM at a WIC clinic. A community-based participatory research design using different formative methods documented the process and key inputs in FM implementation. Local farmers, program administrators, and community advocates were involved in documenting the implementation process. Multiple formative methods included direct observation and semistructured interviews with staff and farmers (n = 13). A community partnership was key in implementing the FM. The market operated weekly over the course of 24 weeks, involved 12 WIC-approved farmers, and featured over 50 types of fresh fruits and vegetables. The FMNP coupon redemption rate at the county level increased from 51.3% to 62.9%. The results demonstrate that a FM can be successfully located near a WIC clinic with positive effects of increasing availability to fresh fruits and vegetables for a low-income population and revenue for local farmers.