Findings on dietary characteristics among Haitian immigrants and the threat of food insecurity: A scoping review

Objectives

This study aimed to map and describe the available evidence on dietary characteristics and diet-related health conditions among Haitian immigrants across the globe.

Study design

Scoping review.

Methods

This review was based on the international guide Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic review and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR). The searches were conducted in several electronic databases in July 2023. Reports focusing on diet, nutrition, and diet-related health conditions among international Haitian immigrants published in English, Portuguese, French, or Spanish with no year limit were included. The data extracted was tabulated and presented in a narrative summary.

Results

Database search retrieved 502 records, of which 30 met the inclusion criteria. The categories that emerged from the analysis were: food consumption patterns and trends, food and nutrition insecurity, cultural identity, and diet-related health conditions. Findings suggest: available evidence underrepresents Latin America and the Caribbean context; research gaps related to adolescents and the elderly and also to noncommunicable diseases except obesity; changes in food consumption after immigration towards less healthy eating; the Haitian immigrant's preference for healthy and traditional eating patterns; many experiences of food insecurity related to poverty, unemployment, and lack of social support, especially in host countries in Latin America and the Caribbean; and a high prevalence of obesity, especially among women.

Conclusions

Further research is required in countries in Latin America, mainly. Diet-related chronic diseases, adolescents, and the elderly should be targeted for further research. We recommend: longitudinal and qualitative research; field action reports describing local and global strategies to manage Haitian migration-related food and nutrition issues; culturally appropriate dietary interventions; and policies to protect and support the most vulnerable Haitian immigrants to have their fundamental right to adequate food guaranteed, reducing health inequalities.