Temporal trends in food insecurity among Syrian refugees resettling in Norway: a prospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVES

To examine changes in food insecurity among Syrian refugees after resettlement in Norway by length of stay.

DESIGN

A longitudinal cohort study surveying Syrian refugees 1- and 4-years post-resettlement to Norway as part of the CHART/Integration for Health study. Using the Seattle short form of the Household Food Security Survey Module, participants were asked if they had worried that food would run out or had experienced that food did not last over the recent year. Changes in food insecurity over time were examined. Additionally, the influence of socio-demographic, migration-related and health-related factors on these changes was assessed.

SETTING

Community setting.

PARTICIPANTS

Adult Syrian refugees granted resettlement to Norway.

RESULTS

Totally, 353 Syrian refugees participated at baseline, and 132 completed the survey at both timepoints. The proportion reporting food insecurity was nearly unchanged from 1 to 4 years after arrival (from 18 % to 23 %; OR 1·3, 95 % CI 0·8-2·0). Individuals escaping Syria alone experienced increased food insecurity compared with those migrating with family. No modifying effect of gender, age, education, cohabiting with partner, number of children, work status prior to displacement, trauma exposure or poor mental health at baseline on change in food insecurity over time was identified.

CONCLUSION

One year after resettlement in Norway, slightly more than one in six Syrian refugees reported food insecurity, with prevalence remaining stable 3 years later. Solo migration increased the risk of food insecurity over time, suggesting the potential value of strategies that keep families together during migration to help safeguard nutritional security.