medigraphic.com
Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública

2005, Number 5

<< Back Next >>

salud publica mex 2005; 47 (5)

Dietary acculturation of Hispanic immigrants in Mississippi

Gray VB, Cossman JS, Dodson WL, Byrd SH

Language: English
References: 32
Page: 351-360
PDF size: 138.34 Kb.


ABSTRACT

Objective. Assisting Hispanic immigrants in making culturally acceptable food choices may affect their health for generations. As a relatively new enclave of Hispanics, Scott County, Mississippi, was chosen to study dietary acculturation and health concerns of immigrants. Material and Methods. The research method consisted of interviews with community representatives (N=11), a focus group (N=6), and interviews with Hispanic immigrants (N=18). Results. Community representatives mentioned availability influenced immigrants’ food choices and suggested promoting cultural awareness and offering nutrition classes on local ingredients. Food cost, health concepts, food selection, and eating habits of children were salient themes from the focus group and interviews with Hispanics. Hispanic participants mentioned long work hours affect food selection and that US produce lacks freshness and flavor. Conclusions. Results indicate that an intervention must be formulated that preserves healthful dietary practices and minimizes the negative health aspects of acculturation to the “American diet.”


REFERENCES

  1. Kittler PG, Sucher K. Food and Culture. 3rd Edition. Belmont ,CA: Wadsworth Thomson Learning, 2001.

  2. Bermudez OI, Falcon LM, Tucker KL. Intake and food sources of macronutrients among older Hispanic adults: Association with ethnicity, acculturation, and length of residence in the United States. J Am Diet Assoc 2000;100:665-673.

  3. Popkin BM, Udry JR. Adolescent obesity increases significantly in second and third generation US immigrants: The national longitudinal study of adolescent health. J Nutr 1998;128:701-706.

  4. Alvarez RR. Changing patterns of family and ideology among Latino cultures in the United States. In: Weaver, T. Kanellos N, Esteva-Fabregat C, ed. Handbook of Hispanic Cultures in the United States. Houston, Texas: Arte Público Press, 1994:147-166.

  5. Schmidley AD. Profile of the foreign born population in the United States: 2000. Current Population Reports, Series P23-206. Washington, DC: United States Census Bureau, 2001.

  6. Guzman B. The Hispanic Population 2000. Census 2000 Brief. U.S. Life, Census Bureau. Available at: http://www.census.gov

  7. Hernández-León R, Zuniga V. Social capital of Mexican communities in the South. Southern Perspectives 2002;6:1-4.

  8. Erwin DO. Latino immigration to Arkansas: Saints and salsa meet poultry and Protestants. Southern Perspectives 2002;6:4-6.

  9. Atiles JH, Bohon S. Camas calientes. Southern Perspectives 2002;6:6-7. 10. National Center for Health Statistics. Healthy People 2000 Review 1997. Hyattsville, MD: Public Health Service, 1997.

  10. Carrasquillo O, Himmelstein DU, Woolhandler S, Bor D. Trends in health insurance coverage, 1989-1997. Int J Health Serv 1999;29:467-483.

  11. Gans KM, Lovell HJ, Fortunet R, McMahon C, Carton-Lopez S, Lasater TM. Implications of a qualitative research for nutrition education geared to selected Hispanic audiences. J Nutr Educ 1999;31:331-338.

  12. Romero-Gwynn EU, Gwynn D. Food and dietary adaptations among Hispanics in the United States. In: Weaver T, Kanellos N, Esteva-Fabregat C, ed. Handbook of Hispanic Cultures in the United States: Anthropology. Houston, Texas: Arte Público Press, 1994: 339-366.

  13. Kuczmarski MF, Kuczmarski RJ, Najjar MN. Food usage among Mexican-American, Cuban, and Puerto Rican adults: Findings from the Hispanic HANES. Nutr Today 1995;30:30-37.

  14. United States Census Bureau. (2003, July 15). State and County QuickFacts. Accessed on 2003 October 15, Available at: http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/28/28123.html.

  15. Shepherd SK, Achterberg C L. Qualitative research methodology: Data collection, analysis, interpretation, and verification. In: Monsen E, ed. Research: Successful Approaches. Chicago, Illinois: American Dietetic Association, 1992:82-99.

  16. Suarez-Balcazar Y, Balcazar F, Quiros M, Chavez M, Quiros O. A case study of international cooperation for community development and primary prevention in Costa Rica. Prev Hum Serv 1995;12:3-23.

  17. Clark J, Hoffman CJ. Recursos en Español: Suggestions for meeting the health and nutrition education needs of Hispanic and immigrant families. Topics in Clinical Nutrition 1998;13:73-82.

  18. Hampl JS. Focus groups indicate that vegetable and fruit consumption by food stamp-eligible Hispanics is affected by children and unfamiliarity with non-traditional foods. J Am Diet Assoc 2001;101:685-687.

  19. Romero-Gwynn E, Gwynn D, Lopez M, Turner B, Asarian-Anderson J, Daud M. Dietary patterns and acculturation among immigrants from El Salvador. Nutr Today 2000;35:233-242.

  20. Carbone ET, Campbell MK, Honness-Morreale L. Use of cognitive interview techniques in the development of nutrition surveys and interactive nutrition messages for low-income populations. J Am Diet Assoc 2002;102:690-696.

  21. Kondracki NL, Wellman NS, Amundson, DR. Content analysis: Review of methods and their applications in nutrition education. J Nutr Educ Behav 2002;34:224-230.

  22. Dressler WW, Bernal H. Acculturation and stress in a low-income Puerto Rican community. J Human Stress 1982;8:32-38.

  23. Hernandez R, Siles, M, Rochín RI. Latino Youth: Converting challenges to opportunities. JSRI Working Paper No. 50. East Lansing, MI: The Julian Samora Research Institute, Michigan State University, 2001.

  24. Perez S. Beyond the Census: Hispanics and an American agenda. Washington, DC: National Council of La Raza, 2001.

  25. Krondl M, Lau D. Social determinants in human food selection. In: Barker L, ed. The Psychobiology of Human Food Selection. Westport, Connecticut: AVI Publishing Company, 1982:139-151.

  26. Kara A, Kaynak E, Kucukemiroglu O. Marketing strategies for fast food restaurants: A consumer’s view. Br Food J 1997;99:318-324.

  27. Hollingsworth P. Hispanic market shows huge potential. Food Technology 2003;57:26-30.

  28. Uauy R, Albala C, Kain J. Obesity trends in Latin America: Transiting from under- to overweight. J Nutr 2001;131:893S-899S.

  29. Khan LK, Sobal J, Martorell R. Acculturation, socioeconomic status, and obesity in Mexican Americans, Cuban Americans, and Puerto Ricans. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord 1997;21:91-96.

  30. Sundquist J, Winkleby MA. Cardiovasuclar risk factors in Mexican American adults: A Transcultural analysis of NHANES III, 1988-1994. Am J Public Health 1999;89:723-730.

  31. American Dietetic Association. School-based nutrition programs and services- Position of the ADA, SNE, and ASFDA. J Am Diet Assoc 1995;95:367-369.

  32. Krondl M, Lau D. Food habit modification as a public health measure. C J Public Health 1978;69:39-48.




2020     |     www.medigraphic.com