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Hugo Melgar-Quinonez
Campbell Hall 350B
(614) 292-0042
hmelgar-quinonez@ehe.osu.edu
Assistant Professor
View Hugo Melgar-Quinonez's curriculum vitae.
Doctor Sc. Med. (Ph.D.) Degree received in 1996.
Friedrich Schiller Universität, Jena, Germany.
School of Medicine (M.D.)
Degree received on 1992 at Friedrich Schiller Universität, Jena, Germany.
Degree accredited on 1998 at Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala, Guatemala.
Additional Studies in Medicine:
1980-1982: Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara, Mexico.
1978-1980: Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala, Guatemala.
My research addresses the following issues:
1) Food security and community nutrition in immigrant Latino population groups in Ohio and the United States; and
2) Development and validation of household food security measurements in Latin America and other countries in the developing world.
Nutrition and Food Insecurity in Latino Immigrants
The Latino community is a relatively new community in the state of Ohio, and it is considered by many agencies to be the fastest growing population group in this area. The Latino community in Ohio is composed mainly of first generation immigrants. In comparison with other population groups, it is younger in age and has a lower income status. In addition to the very rapid growth that this population is experiencing, it is characterized by much heterogeneity. Latinos now represent about 15% of the US population and the US Census Bureau projects this community to be 25% of the total population by the year 2050. However, lack of cultural and social competencies among nutrition and health professionals and poor English proficiency among Latinos represent critical barriers to better work with the Latino community.
The Healthy Latinos Initiative
Our research group evaluated the impact of the Healthy Latinos Initiative such intervention and generated preliminary data on this community (e.g., food security, food behavior, physical activity, and diabetes management). Data from the Healthy Latino Families program has facilitated the development of a kit of evaluation tools in both English and Spanish. Parallel to this project an internal 4-H grant allowed us to translate health and nutrition curricula for children into Spanish. These materials were subsequently used in after-school settings for Latino children in Columbus, as well as with children participating in Healthy Latino Families.
Health and Nutrition Information through the Media
As a way of conveying nutrition education messages to the Latino community, our group has started to assess the use of the media as means of providing Latinos with information. The goal of this project is to identify what are the main media used by Latinos in Central Ohio to obtain health information, and it represents the foundation for the development of culturally appropriate health education materials and media content for this immigrant community.
Nationally Representative Survey DATA on Nutrition and Health
We work with other OSU research groups using nationally representative survey data. The inclusion of a household food insecurity measure in the current US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) has provided us with data to assess dietary, health and demographic related factors associated with food insecurity (e.g., high calorie foods, fruits and vegetables, obesity, diabetes, ethnicity/race, income).
The 'Choice Food Pantry Model'
The goal of this project is to facilitate food pantries in Ohio to transition into “choice” with awareness of difficulties and barriers found by Latino clients. We expect that the model we are developing will have a positive impact on both the food security and nutritional status of low-income population groups. This research has very important policy implications in the regulation of food pantry services, especially in the quality of the food supplied.
Household Food Insecurity Measurement in the Developing World
Our work on the measurement of food insecurity serves as a link for my research on Latinos in the US and Latin American populations in their own countries. Therefore, our group has been collaborating with research centers and agencies in several Latin American countries (Mexico, Guatemala, Colombia, Ecuador, Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina). Having access to nationally representative data on food security from Latin American countries has allowed us to evaluate the performance of the newly developed tool on a wide range of diverse population groups. An in-depth assessment of the performance of this tool has become crucial in order to generate data that are comparable among regions within nations, but also among countries in Latin America.
Melgar-Quinonez HR, Nord M, Perez-Escamilla R, Segall-Correa AM. (2007) Psychometric Properties of a Modified US-Household Food Security Survey Module in Campinas, Brazil. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition. In Press.
Lorson BA, Melgar-Quinonez HR, Taylor CA. (2007) Correlates of Fruit and Vegetable Intakes in U.S. Children. Submitted to Journal of the American Dietetic Association. In Press.
Remley DT, Gallagher T, McDowell J, Kershaw M, Lambea MC, Melgar-Quinonez H. (2006) Extension's Role in Developing 'Choice' Food Pantries in Southwest Ohio. Journal of Extension; 44(6): 6IAW5. At: http://www.joe.org/joe/2006december/iw5.shtml
Álvarez MC, Montoya C, Estrada A, Melgar-Quiñonez H. (2006) Validation of a household food security scale in Antioquia, Colombia. Salud Publica Mex;48:474-481.
Melgar-Quinonez HR, Zubieta AC, MkNelly B, Nteziyaremye A, Gerardo MF, Dunford C. (2006) Household Food Insecurity and Daily per Capita Food Expenditure in Bolivia, Burkina Faso and the Philippines. Journal of Nutrition;136:1431S-1437S.
Melgar-Quiñonez H, Zubieta AC, Valdez E, Whitelaw B, Kaiser L. (2005) Validation of an instrument to monitor food insecurity in Sierra de Manantlan, Jalisco. Salud Publica Mex;47(6):413-422.
Johnson M, Melgar-Quiñónez H. (2005) Main nutritional problems in Latinos living in the United States. Perspectivas en Nutrición Humana; August (Supplement): 21-29.
Melgar-Quiñonez HR, Kaiser LL (2004) Relationship of Child Feeding Practices to Overweight in Low-Income Mexican-American Preschoolers. Journal of the American Dietetic Association;104: 1110-1119.
Kaiser LL, Martin AC, Metz DL, Nicholson Y, Fujii ML, Lamp CL, Townsend MS, Crawford PB, Melgar-Quiñonez H. (2004) Food Insecurity Prominent among Low-Income California Latinos. California Agriculture;58: 18-23.
Kaiser LL, Townsend MS, Melgar-Quiñonez HR, Fujii ML, Crawford PB. (2004) Choice of Instrument Influences Relations between Food Insecurity and Obesity in Latino Women. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition;80: 1372-1378.
Melgar-Quiñonez H, Kaiser LL, Martin AC, Metz D, Olivares A. (2003) Inseguridad Alimentaria en Latinos de California: Observaciones de Grupos Focales. Salud Pública de Mexico;45: 198-205.
Kaiser LL, Melgar-Quiñonez H. (2003) Food Insecurity and Food Supplies in Latino Households with Young Children. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior;35(3):148-153.
Kaiser LL, Klenk MA, Martin AC, Olivares A, Joy AB, Melgar-Quiñonez H. (2003) Diabetes-Related Health Beliefs Explored in Low-Income Latinos. California Agriculture;57: 8-12.
Kaiser LL, Melgar-Quiñonez H, Lamp C, Sutherlin J, Johns M, Harwood J. (2002) Food Security and Nutritional Outcomes of Latino Preschoolers. Journal of the American Dietetic Association;102: 924-929.
Kaiser LL, Melgar-Quiñonez H, Lamp C, Sutherlin J, Johns M, Harwood J. (2001) Impact of Acculturation in the Nutritional Status of Preschooler of Low-Income Families in California. Journal of the American Dietetic Association;101: 542-547.
Flores M, Melgar H, Cortés C, Rivera M, Rivera J, Sepúlveda J. (1998) Consumo de Energía y Nutrimentos en Mujeres Mexicanas en Edad Reproductiva. Salud Pública de Mexico;40: 161-171.