Assessing food insecurity severity and lived experiences among Sub-Saharan African migrants in Turkey: evidence from a rasch-based mixed-methods study

Abstract

Turkey has become an increasingly important destination for Sub-Saharan African migrants over the past four decades, particularly in large metropolitan areas such as Istanbul. Yet, unlike Syrian refugees, this diverse and growing migrant population remains largely invisible in both national statistics and food security research, despite facing economic precarity, informal employment, and limited access to social protection. Against a backdrop of rising food prices and urban living costs, this study examines the prevalence, severity, and lived experiences of food insecurity among Sub-Saharan African migrants in Istanbul, combining standardized measurement with qualitative insights to illuminate an overlooked dimension of migration and inequality in Turkey. Methods: An explanatory sequential mixed-methods design was employed. Quantitative data were collected from 108 adult migrants through structured face-to-face surveys conducted at two community-based organizations between November 2022 and March 2023. Food insecurity was measured using the Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES), and Rasch modeling was applied to assess measurement performance and comparability with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) global reference scale. To contextualize the quantitative findings, four semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted online and analyzed thematically using the four FAO dimensions of food security: availability, access, utilization, and stability. Results: Rasch analysis indicated acceptable measurement performance and internal consistency of the FIES in this population. Approximately 35% of participants experienced moderate or severe food insecurity, and 21.7% experienced severe food insecurity in the previous year. Qualitative findings revealed that food insecurity was driven primarily by economic constraints and rising food prices rather than physical food availability. Participants highlighted the high cost of culturally familiar foods, precarious employment conditions, and uneven access to social networks as key factors shaping food access and stability. Conclusion: Food insecurity represents a substantial and multidimensional challenge for Sub-Saharan African migrants in Istanbul. The findings underscore that income presence alone does not ensure food security and that affordability and cultural accessibility are central barriers. Together, the results highlight the need for migrant-inclusive, culturally informed food policies that address cost pressures and leverage community-based support mechanisms for underserved migrant populations in Turkey.