Examining Shopping Patterns, Use of Food-Related Resources, and Proposed Solutions to Improve Healthy Food Access Among Food Insecure and Food Secure Eastern North Carolina Residents

Mary Jane Lyonnais, Ann P. Rafferty, Stephanie Jilcott Pitts, Rebecca J. Blanchard and Archana P. Kaur
Additional contact information
Mary Jane Lyonnais: Health Education, Albemarle Regional Health Services, Elizabeth City, NC 27909, USA
Ann P. Rafferty: Department of Public Health, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27834, USA
Stephanie Jilcott Pitts: Department of Public Health, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27834, USA
Rebecca J. Blanchard: Health Education and Promotion, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27834, USA
Archana P. Kaur: Department of Public Health, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27834, USA

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 10, 1-12

Abstract: In the Southern United States (U.S.), food insecurity rates are higher in rural (20.8%) versus urban communities (15%). Food insecurity can exacerbate diet-related disease. Thus, the purpose of this study was to examine differences in the use of food-related community resources and potential solutions proposed among food insecure versus food secure residents. A community survey ( n = 370) was conducted in rural eastern North Carolina, with questions pertaining to food security status and food-related resources. The IBM SPSS Statistics software and SAS software were used to examine differences in food-related resources, and qualitative data analysis was used to examine differences in solutions offered between food insecure and food secure participants. Of the 370 respondents, forty-eight-point-six percent were classified as food insecure. Food insecure participants were more likely to report shopping for groceries at a convenience/discount store, less likely to use their own vehicle for transportation, and less likely to purchase food from local producers. Food insecure participants were more likely to suggest solutions related to reducing the cost of healthy food, while food secure participants were more likely to suggest educational or convenience-related interventions.

Keywords: food insecurity; food access; rural (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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