Food Insecurity Among Haitian Migrants Living In Brazil

**Background:** Haiti is the poorest country in the Americas, with over half its population chronically malnourished and 46% (4.3 million people) in food insecurity as of 2021. Following the 2010 earthquake, Haitian migration to Brazil surged, reaching over 101,900 people between 2010 and 2017. Despite Brazil's legal framework granting humanitarian residence visas to Haitians since 2012, no prior studies had examined food and nutritional security (FNS) among Haitian migrants in Brazil. This study aimed to evaluate FNS among Haitian migrants in Cuiabá and Várzea Grande, Mato Grosso, a major destination for migrant workers.

**Methods:** This cross-sectional study used a probabilistic sample proportional to sex of Haitian migrants aged ≥18 years. Sample size was calculated using Lwanga and Lemeshow procedures based on 1,059 Haitians registered at the Pastoral Center for Migrants (CPM) in Cuiabá (2012–2014), with 50% prevalence, 95% significance level, and 4% tolerable error, yielding 383 individuals plus 15% for losses (total 440: 370 men, 70 women). Data were collected December 28, 2014 to February 2, 2015 by trained bilingual (Haitian Creole/Portuguese) interviewers. The BSFI (Brazilian Scale of Food Insecurity) was translated into Haitian Creole. Because the BSFI is not validated for Haitians, the first eight questions (excluding those about households with minors) were analyzed separately for 404 respondents (48 living at CPM were excluded). Chi-square tests were used with 5% significance level. The study was approved by a Federal University Health Ethics Committee (CAAE N° 29120414.0.0000.5541).

**Key Results:** Of 452 interviewed (373 men, 79 women), 81.9% were male, 60.9% aged 18–36 years, and 66.8% married or in stable relationship. Among men married, 60.7% had wives in Haiti; 60.8% of women lived with husbands. Women had lower education (60.0% completed elementary school vs 48.9% men) and lower income (41.6% had no income vs 29.5% men; p<0.01). Only 29.1% of women spoke Creole and two or more languages vs 52.3% of men (p<0.01). Overall, 52.7% had a job, 56.2% earned ≥R$725/month, and 30.1% had no income. Among the 404 analyzed for BSFI, the highest positive response was to "worried about running out of food" (64.4%), followed by "ran out of food before having money to buy more" (62.6%), "lost weight due to lack of money for food" (54.7%), "hungry but did not eat due to lack of money" (53.5%), and "ate less than felt should due to lack of money" (53.2%). Women had significantly higher positive responses than men for: running out of food (74.0% vs 60.1%, p=0.03), eating less than should (64.4% vs 50.8%, p=0.03), and being hungry but not eating (64.4% vs 51.1%, p=0.04). Those with migration debts had significantly higher positive responses for 7 of 8 questions (p≤0.01), including 76.6% running out of food (vs 33.9% without debts) and 68.8% being hungry but not eating (vs 37.3%). Those residing ≥1 year in Brazil had significantly higher positive responses for 6 of 8 questions (p≤0.03), including 66.2% worried about running out of food (vs 50.2% for <1 year) and 55.6% eating less than should (vs 40.9%).

**Clinical Implications:** This study reveals that Haitian migrants in Brazil experience substantial food insecurity, particularly among women, those with migration debts, and longer-term residents. Despite Brazil's humanitarian visa policy, migrants face precarious labor conditions, low income, and exclusion from social programs. Women are especially vulnerable due to lower education, income, and Portuguese proficiency, alongside gender inequality in the labor market. The finding that longer residence does not improve food security—and may worsen it—suggests structural barriers to integration. These results call for targeted public policies ensuring migrants' access to adequate food, social protection, and labor inclusion, particularly in Mato Grosso, a major grain-producing state where such policies could feasibly reduce food insecurity.