Diet and Health Risks Among Migrants in Precarious Situations: A Multicenter Study at Seven Reception, Care, and Referral Centers Run by Médecins du Monde France, 2014.

Introduction: Médecins du Monde (MdM) programs provide care for vulnerable individuals who face difficulties accessing healthcare and their health rights. The vast majority of these individuals are foreign nationals (both new arrivals and long-term residents). Recently, our teams have observed an increase in the number of patients with inadequate and unbalanced diets, as well as in requests for food assistance. Materials and Methods: A survey was conducted among individuals encountered at seven MdM Reception, Care, and Referral Centers (Caso) in France to document their access to food, dietary practices, and health status according to their socioeconomic status. A questionnaire was offered to anyone visiting these centers prior to their medical consultation, during which anthropometric measurements and medical conditions were recorded. Three hundred forty-six people were included in the survey, including 335 foreign nationals. Results: More than 78.5% of those surveyed belonged to households experiencing food insecurity due to financial reasons. On average, respondents reported spending 2.5 EUR per person per day on food. The average number of meals consumed in the 24 hours preceding the survey was 2.2, and 45.9% reported having gone without food for an entire day at least once during the month. The individuals interviewed had little knowledge of assistance programs: only 42% had used food assistance services at least once in the month preceding the survey. Regarding their nutritional status, 2.6% were underweight, 34.1% were overweight, and 18.7% were obese. Discussion and Conclusion: the results of this survey highlight the importance of developing accessible care and food distribution systems that promote the health of such populations. It is also necessary to adapt prevention and health promotion initiatives to reach the most vulnerable and migrants, and to address the underlying determinants of malnutrition (access to housing, financial assistance, residency conditions, etc.).

Author(s): Chappuis M, Thomas E, Durand E, Laurence S

Publishing year: 2017

Pages: 415-22

Weekly Epidemiological Bulletin, 2017, n° 19-20, p. 415-22

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