Forced Migration, Refuge, Food and Nutrition: An Integrative Literature Review from the Perspective of Food and Nutritional Security

Abstract

Introduction: By the end of 2020, 82.4 million people were forced to move around the world. This amount qualifies the population forcibly displaced in the world as the largest ever recorded, being 1% of the world population. About 80% of these people are in countries affected by severe food insecurity. Objective: To analyze the existing scientific production on forced migrations, refuge and nutrition, with a focus on food and nutrition security. Method: This is an integrative literature review, using the bases: Virtual Health Library, USA National Library of Medicine, Periodical Portal of the Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel and Science Direct. Results: 717 articles were found, 334 (46.6%) in MEDLINE, 241 (33.6%) in Portal Periódicos CAPES, 110 (15.3%) in Science Direct and 32 (4.5%) in the VHL. Five themes were identified: (1) Food and Nutritional Security; (2) Food Practices and Acculturation; (3) Maternal and Child Nutrition; (4) Double burden of malnutrition; (5) Food and Nutrition Education Strategies. Conclusion: Difficulties due to cultural diversities evidenced by language and food practices; lack of access to work and income; access to services and adequate health care are among the main challenges for access to food and nutrition security.