Table 3.
Sociodemographic characteristics of Latino/a parents/caregivers in Mejorando la Esperanza en Seguridad Alimentaria (Improving Hope for Food Security) overall and by site for California (CA), New York (NY), and Texas (TX)
| Total |
CA |
NY |
TX |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Characteristic | (n = 62) | (n = 17) | (n = 25) | (n = 20) |
|
| ||||
| ← n (%) → | ||||
| Gender a | ||||
| Female | 57 (92) | 16 (94) | 25 (100) | 16 (80) |
| Male | 5 (8) | 1 (6) | 0 (0) | 4 (20) |
| Educational attainment | ||||
| Less than high school/GEDb | 14 (23) | 5 (29) | 7 (28) | 2 (10) |
| High school/GED or some college | 30 (48) | 9 (53) | 11 (44) | 10 (50) |
| Occupational training, certificate, or college degree | 18 (29) | 3 (18) | 7 (28) | 8 (40) |
| Racial identity c | ||||
| Hispanic/Latino | 38 (61) | 15 (88) | 8 (32) | 15 (75) |
| Black | 7 (11) | 0(0) | 7 (28) | 0 (0) |
| Indigenous | 8 (13) | 0 (0) | 6 (24) | 2 (10) |
| White | 10 (16) | 1 (6) | 4 (16) | 5 (25) |
| Did not specify racial identity | 2 (3) | 1 (6) | 0 (0) | 1 (5) |
| Hispanic/Latino heritage d | ||||
| Dominican | 6 (10) | 0 (0) | 6 (24) | 0 (0) |
| Ecuadoran | 5 (8) | 0 (0) | 5 (20) | 0 (0) |
| Mexican | 41 (66) | 17 (100) | 5 (20) | 19 (95) |
| Puerto Rican | 6 (10) | 0 (0) | 4 (16) | 2 (10) |
| Other Central/South American | 9 (15) | 0 (0) | 8 (32) | 1 (5) |
| Other | 5 (8) | 2 (12) | 0 (0) | 3 (15) |
| Nativity | ||||
| US-born | 26 (42) | 9 (53) | 2 (8) | 15 (75) |
| Foreign-born | 36 (58) | 8 (47) | 23 (92) | 5 (25) |
| Current residence | ||||
| Rural or small town | 12(19) | 0 (0) | 1 (4) | 11 (55) |
| Small city | 9 (15) | 0 (0) | 3 (12) | 6 (30) |
| Large city or suburbs | 41 (66) | 17 (100) | 21 (84) | 3 (15) |
| Language spoken at home | ||||
| English | 22 (36) | 6 (35) | 2 (8) | 14 (70) |
| Spanish | 34 (55) | 11 (65) | 20 (80) | 3 (15) |
| Both English and Spanish | 6 (10) | 0 (0) | 3 (12) | 3 (15) |
| Employment status | ||||
| Working for pay | 27 (43.5) | 6 (35.3) | 14 (56) | 7 (35) |
| Not working for pay | 35 (56.5) | 11 (64.7) | 11 (44) | 13 (65) |
| Partner’s employment status | ||||
| Working for pay | 33 (53) | 9 (53) | 15 (60) | 9(45) |
| Not working for pay | 6 (10) | 1 (6) | 2 (8) | 3 (15) |
| N/Ae or missing | 23 (37) | 7 (41) | 8 (32) | 8 (40) |
| Program participation | ||||
| Free/reduced-price school meals | 45 (73) | 12(71) | 21(84) | 12 (60) |
| SNAPf | 39 (63) | 12(71) | 15(60) | 12 (60) |
| WICg | 24 (39) | 8 (47) | 9 (36) | 7 (35) |
| Community food distribution | 41 (66) | 14 (82) | 14 (56) | 13 (65) |
| Medicaid | 43 (69) | 13 (77) | 19 (76) | 11 (55) |
| Household food security status g | ||||
| High | 2 (3) | 2(12) | 0(0) | 0 (0) |
| Mar3inal | 3 (5) | 0 (0) | 3 (12) | 0 (0) |
| Low | 21 (34) | 5 (29) | 7 (32) | 9 (45) |
| Very low | 36 (58) | 10 (59) | 15 (56) | 11 (55) |
| ← median (range) → | ||||
| Age (y) | 40 (20–68) | 38 (22–68) | 41 (28–58) | 35 (20–57) |
| Household size | 4 (2–8) | 5 (2–8) | 5 (2–8) | 4 (2–8) |
| No. of children | 2 (1–5) | 2 (1–5) | 2 (1–5) | 2 (1–5) |
household food security was assessed using the 18-item US Department of Agriculture Household Food Security Module.23 Missing data points (n = 72) from 13 different participants were imputed according to US Department of Agriculture guidelines. Affirmative response tallies increased for six of those participants, causing two participants’ categorical scores to change from “low” to “very low” food security.
Gender was asked as an open-ended item (What is your gender?)
GED = General Educational Development high school equivalency.
Racial identity was asked as an open-ended item (“What is your race?”). All participants were Hispanic or Latino/a. However, when asked about race, many participants reported Hispanic or Latino/a ethnicity. Columns may not add to 100%, as some participants reported more than one race.
Heritage was asked as a closed-ended item, where participants could report multiple heritages and identify an additional heritage as needed. Columns may not add to 100%, as some participants reported more than one heritage.
N/A = not applicable.
SNAP = Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
WIC = Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children.