What factors are associated with food security among recently arrived refugees resettling in high-income countries? A scoping review

Objective: Refugees are vulnerable to food insecurity (FI). This is attributable to a combination of inequitable social determinants and cultural differences. In 2019, 92 % of refugee resettlement (host country provides residency/citizenship) occurred in high-income countries, but little is known about the factors impacting their food security status in this setting. The review's objective was to therefore thematically identify factors affecting food security among refugees resettling in high-income countries. Design: This review was based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews. Between May-July 2020 and February 2021, peer-reviewed studies focused on FI, and published in English from 2000-2020, were searched on Medline, CINAHL, Scopus, Informit, PsychArticles, Proquest and EmBase. Setting: Only studies set in high-income countries were included. Participants: Fifty percent or more of study participants had to be refugees who had resettled within 5 years. Results: Twenty studies from six high-income countries were included. Culturally based food practices and priorities, confidence in navigating local foodways and transport, level of community connections and capabilities in local language and food preparation were key themes associated with food security. Conclusions: Utilising the four themes of culture, confidence, community and capabilities, there is an opportunity to improve the cultural sensitivity of measurement tools, develop understanding of how community-based resources (such as social capital) can be leveraged as food security buffers and modify existing food security initiatives to better serve refugee needs.

Automated summary

This study aims to explore the factors influencing food security among refugees resettling in high-income countries, identifying culture, confidence, community connections, and capabilities as key themes.