Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health
Volume 16, Issue 1, 2014, Pages 24-34

Acculturation and nutritional health of immigrants in Canada: A scoping review (Review) (Open Access)

Sanou D.* , O'Reilly E. , Ngnie-Teta I. , Batal M. , Mondain N. , Andrew C. , Newbold B.K. , Bourgeault I.L.
  • a Interdisciplinary School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, Canada
  • b Nutrition Program, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa ON, Canada
  • c Nutrition Program, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa ON, Canada, United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), Pétion-Ville, Haiti
  • d Nutrition Program, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa ON, Canada
  • e Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
  • f School of Political Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
  • g School of Geography and Earth Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
  • h Interdisciplinary School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, Canada

Abstract

Although recent immigrants to Canada are healthier than Canadian born (i.e., the Healthy Immigrant Effect), they experience a deterioration in their health status which is partly due to transitions in dietary habits. Since pathways to these transitions are under-documented, this scoping review aims to identify knowledge gaps and research priorities related to immigrant nutritional health. A total of 49 articles were retrieved and reviewed using electronic databases and a stakeholder consultation was undertaken to consolidate findings. Overall, research tends to confirm the Healthy Immigrant Effect and suggests that significant knowledge gaps in nutritional health persist, thereby creating a barrier to the advancement of health promotion and the achievement of maximum health equity. Five research priorities were identified including (1) risks and benefits associated with traditional/ethnic foods; (2) access and outreach to immigrants; (3) mechanisms and coping strategies for food security; (4) mechanisms of food choice in immigrant families; and (5) health promotion strategies that work for immigrant populations. © 2013 The Author(s).

Author Keywords

nutrition Dietary acculturation Immigrant health Canada

Index Keywords

health promotion demography human Food Supply feeding behavior diet ethnology procedures catering service Humans migrant Canada Emigrants and Immigrants Acculturation Food Preferences cultural factor food preference Food Habits nutritional status
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84895051839&doi=10.1007%2fs10903-013-9823-7&partnerID=40&md5=58c54182c95fa8e4aa34f218cd32b259
DOI: 10.1007/s10903-013-9823-7
ISSN: 15571912
Cited by: 74
Original Language: English