We explore the current state of the principal literature relevant to resilience and vulnerability within and among communities of forced migrants. We highlight strengths, gaps, and weaknesses in these literatures, utilizing a case study to illustrate the importance of what we deem to be essential omitted variables. We make recommendations for moving these literatures—and their associated underlying conceptual frameworks—forward.

OBJECTIVES AND DESIGN This cross-sectional, observational study examined the prevalence of objectively measured chronic disease risk factors among a diverse group of food pantry patrons. SAMPLE AND MEASUREMENT Public health nurses performed biometric screenings in community settings for 1,685 unduplicated adults attending food pantries. RESULTS Over three fourths of participants (81.1%) were overweight or obese. High cholesterol and high blood pressure were detected in 38.4% and 37.7% of participants, respectively. Over half (58%) of the participants were referred to a local community health clinic for follow-up services. CONCLUSION Interventions should target food pantry patrons to reduce the prevalence of chronic disease conditions among this vulnerable population.

The Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (DGAC) 2020 report indicates a need for examining the association between acculturation, dietary behaviors and disease risk. Dietary energy density (ED, kcal/g) is an established indicator of diet quality and a risk factor for chronic disease. Because ED is calculated using the whole diet, it is culturally relevant for use in a variety of populations. Past research on acculturation and diet indicates a need for more research using indicators that measure diet quality. The objective of the present study was to examine the relationship between acculturation, dietary intake, and dietary energy density. Dietary data was collected using 24hour-recall in a nationally representative sample of 10 622 adults who participated in the 2013–2016 NHANES. Specific questions about acculturation were asked of participants. All data were analyzed using SAS 9.4 survey procedures to account for the complex survey design of the NHANES. A linear relationship between dietary ED and length of time in the US was observed (p-trend < 0.0001). Individuals who were in the US for < 5 years had the lowest dietary ED compared to those who had been in the US for the longest (1.39 vs. 1.84 kcal/g, P < 0.0004) representing ∼450 kcal/day difference after adjusting for relevant cofactors. Despite this difference, there was no difference in the amount of money spent on food compared with length of time in the US. This study is consistent with other studies that examine changes in dietary patterns among those who have immigrated to the US. Findings from this study, specifically using ED as an indicator of diet quality, may provide recommendations to developing culturally inclusive efforts to encourage healthy diets. None.

Social capital, or social connections that a household possesses that can provide support and access to resources, is an important indicator to consider when assessing one's ability to withstand shocks and stressors. This study seeks to operationalize social capital within the context of two disaster-prone settings - Burkina Faso and Niger. Burkina Faso and Niger are two landlocked countries located in the Sahel region of West Africa. They are prone to frequent stressors including drought, flooding, and insect invasions. Secondary data from a representative cross-sectional household survey of 2492 households conducted in May 2015 were re-analyzed. The analysis compared three methods most commonly employed in the literature against a new method and compared each operationalization of social capital. This study identified latent class analysis, asan appropriate method for this context. Selection criteria included method limitations, dataset constraints, interpretability, and the amount of variance the classes contributed to an outcome of interest, food security. The three classes had both a significant and positive association with food security (p < 0.01). Appropriate operationalization was also determined by examining the semipartial R-2 of each method. The latent class analysis index had an increment of 0.0064 (Household Food Insecurity Access Scale) and 0.0065 (Dietary Diversity Score), p < 0.001, the highest contribution of all models tested. These findings demonstrate approximate equivalence of findings using different methods; however, latent class analysis may be most appropriate given this context.