Food insecurity among Ukrainian refugee families in Finland: prevalence and key determinants

Abstract Background Europe's largest child displacement since WWII has brought more than 70,000 Ukrainians to Finland. War-related stress, limited budget, and an unfamiliar food environment may undermine food security even in a high-income welfare state. We aimed to: (1) estimate food insecurity (FI) prevalence among Ukrainian refugee families with children relocated to Finland, and (2) identify key risk factors. Methods In 2025, we conducted a cross-sectional online survey among 108 caregivers and their 122 children (ages 6-18). Food security was measured using the HFIAS questionnaire with dietary data collected via FFQ. We compared food-secure vs. FI and conducted logistic regression to analyse the determinants of FI. Results Most respondents were mothers (93%), had lived in Finland for a mean of 25.4 ± 11.4 months, 44% were unemployed, and 37% were students. Only 11% of caregivers reported food security during the past month; 24 % experienced mild, 31% moderate, and 34 % severe food-insecure (overall FI = 89 %). Caregivers struggling with expenses (77 %) had 4.09-fold higher odds of severe FI (OR 4.09, 95 % CI 1.02-16.41, p = 0.05). Low consumption of fresh vegetables was associated with higher HFIAS scores (p = 0.04). Conclusions Our findings revealed an alarming prevalence of FI among Ukrainian refugee families with children. Financial strain was the primary determinant of severe FI, whereas unemployment and number of children emerged as the strongest predictors of overall FI. Key messages • Nine in ten Ukrainian refugee families in Finland had experienced FI. • Financial constraints were primary determinant of severe FI.