Rural SNAP Participants and Food Insecurity: How Can Communities Leverage Resources to Meet the Growing Food Insecurity Status of Rural and Low-Income Residents?

Emily DeWitt, Rachel Gillespie, Heather Norman-Burgdolf, Kathryn M. Cardarelli, Stacey Slone and Alison Gustafson
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Emily DeWitt: Family and Consumer Sciences Extension, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506, USA
Rachel Gillespie: Family and Consumer Sciences Extension, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506, USA
Heather Norman-Burgdolf: Department of Dietetics and Human Nutrition, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506, USA
Kathryn M. Cardarelli: College of Public Health, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506, USA
Stacey Slone: Department of Statistics, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506, USA
Alison Gustafson: Department of Dietetics and Human Nutrition, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506, USA

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 17, 1-14

Abstract: The burden of obesity disproportionately influences poor health outcomes in rural communities in the United States. Various social and environmental factors contribute to inadequate food access and availability in rural areas, influencing dietary intakes and food insecurity rates. This study aims to identify patterns related to food insecurity and fruit and vegetable consumption within a SNAP-eligible and low-income, highly obese rural Appalachian community. A prospective cohort was implemented to identify gaps in resources addressing obesity and food insecurity challenges. SAS 9.4 software was used to examine differences in dietary intakes and shopping practices among SNAP participants. Among participants ( n = 152), most reported an annual household income less than USD 20,000 ( n = 90, 60.4%), 29.1% reported food insecurity, and 39.5% reported receiving SNAP benefits within the last month. The overall mean FV intake was 3.46 daily servings (95% CI: 3.06–3.91) among all participants. SNAP participation was associated with food insecurity ( p = 0.007) and those participating in SNAP were two times more likely to report being food insecure (OR = 2.707, 95% CI: 1.317, 5.563), relative to non-participants. These findings further depict the need for intervention, as the burden of food insecurity persists. Tailoring health-promoting initiatives to consider rurality and SNAP participation is vital for sustainable success among these populations.

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

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