“…I don’t forget my traditions…” Exploring barriers and facilitators of food security among low income newcomer Latin American families in Edmonton, Alberta
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Abstract
Food insecurity is an important public health concern as 2.7 million Canadians live in food insecure households (CCHS, 2004). My research aimed to explore facilitators and barriers to food security among Latino mothers in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, as research in this realm is limited. My study used Photovoice, a methodology by which participants express their views through visual means. Six eligible newcomer Latino mothers were recruited. The data collected included photographs, transcripts, and field notes. Data were analyzed using latent content analysis. The study findings support the multidimensional nature of food security within the acculturation process of Latino families. Mothers show resourcefulness in maximizing the household’s resources for finding culturally relevant products. Barriers for accessing these products include limited English proficiency, which is linked to their socioeconomic and psychological adaptation, access to adequate employment and income, and limited flexibility of migration policies. Recommendations for policy and practice are provided.