Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

A Brief Overview Of Food Insecurity In Southern New Jersey, Lisa Ting Huang, Krisha Darji, Jariatou Diallo, Amin Abdul Khan

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Atlantic County, located off the Jersey Shore, faces the highest level of food insecurity in New Jersey, with a rate of 11.2% as of 2021, surpassing the state's overall rate of 8.8%. This situation contributes to health issues such as hypertension, diabetes, and heart disease.

The objective of this research is to understand and address the persistence of food insecurity in Atlantic County. Community stakeholders and local physicians were interviewed to identify barriers and disparities contributing to food insecurity.

Methods included a literature review using keywords like "food insecurity" and "southern New Jersey". Proposed interventions suggest collaboration with health centers …

Relationship Between Food Security, Nutrition Security, And Diabetes: The Role Of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Participation, Maha Almohamad, Jayna M Dave, Eric E Calloway, Ruosha Li, Shreela Sharma

Journal Articles

BACKGROUND: Inadequate nutrition and poor diet quality are associated with a heightened risk of diabetes. The connection between food insecurity measures and diabetes has been established, with evidence indicating that Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participation contributes to reductions in food insecurity. Recently developed nutrition security measures, defined as the ability to acquire healthful foods to prevent diseases, and their association with diabetes and SNAP participation are not yet understood.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to assess the relationship between food security and nutrition security in relation to diabetes overall and by SNAP participation and nutrition security as potential modifiers.

METHODS: …

Risk Of Food Insecurity Reflects Health Status In Adult Relatives Of Prek Children – ​ Data From The Steps Snap-Ed Research Study​, Lisa M B Salinas, Karla Cortez, Brenda Rodriguez, Joseph Reyes, Moises Cisneros, Elizabeth Alanis, Zasha Romero, Lin Wang, Juan C. Lopez-Alvarenga, Roberto Treviño-Peña

Research Symposium

Background: Past research shows a correlation between household food insecurity and chronic medical conditions such as diabetes in the general U.S. population as well as metabolic syndrome-related cardiometabolic markers in Hispanic/Latino youth. Furthermore, minority status, including Hispanic/Latino identity, shows an association with low food security and diabetes. The Hunger Vital Sign (HVS) is a validated screener designed to assess risk of food insecurity within households. This study analyzes associated factors related to the screener’s 2 questions, specifically targeting PreK 4-year-old children and their household relatives. The first question assesses concern about food running out before obtaining more due to financial …

Assessing Social Determinants Of Health In Primary Care, Vicki Carpenter

Doctoral Projects

The social determinants of health encompass the various circumstances and environments in which individuals reside, develop, labor, and experience aging (Social Determinants of Health, 2022). These variables significantly contribute to the existence of health inequities and disparities within populations. In order to effectively mitigate health disparities, it is imperative to consider the various determinants that influence health outcomes, as this consideration is crucial for advancing the goal of achieving health equity. This public health concern encompasses multiple sectors within our society, necessitating the collaboration of various organizations and communities to effectively address and mitigate its impact.

The fundamental …

Food Insecurity Increases Risk Of Depression And Anxiety Among Women In Senegal Living With Diabetes And/Or Hypertension, Rachel P Allred, Ndèye Aminata Mbaye, Fatoumata Diagne, Sheryl A Mccurdy, Melissa B Harrell, Emma Nelson Bunkley

Journal Articles

Food insecurity affects close to half the population of Senegal, West Africa, a country simultaneously affected by the ongoing global diabetes pandemic. Diabetes and food insecurity are associated with adverse mental health, yet research exploring the relationship between chronic physical illness, food insecurity, and mental illness in Senegal is currently lacking. The objective of this study was to investigate the association between food insecurity and depression and anxiety, separately, in Senegalese women living with diabetes and hypertension. Food insecurity was measured using the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale. Occurrence of depression and anxiety symptoms was assessed using the Modified Hopkins …

Healthy School Meals For All: The Role Of Food Law And Policy, Thomas J. Vilsack

Journal of Food Law & Policy

The first Conference held more than 50 years ago by President Nixon in 1969 had significant impacts on our Department and the prevalence of food insecurity in our country. Nost notably, the Conference sparked significant expansions to Food Stamps, now known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), from 2 million in 1968 to 11 million by 1971. The Conference also increased the reach of the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), which served 2.9 million low-income children at the time of the Conference and expanded to serving nearly 8 million low-income children by 1971. Permanent authorization of the School Breakfast …

Entanglements Of Teenage Food Security Within High School Pantries In Pinellas County, Florida, Karen T. Díaz Serrano

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Food insecurity has the ability to shape an individual’s or a family’s everyday life and take emotional, psychological, and physical tolls. Among adolescents, not having access to nutritious food could lead to physical effects during growth and development. Moreover, the stress and anxiety of not knowing where their next meal is coming from and the social stigma associated with being food insecure can have negative effects on mental health. A recent solution to these issues is locating food pantries in high schools. Purpose: This exploratory study examined how high school students in Pinellas County, Florida perceive the use of a …

Entanglements Of Teenage Food Security Within High School Pantries In Pinellas County, Florida, Karen T. Diaz Serrano

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Food insecurity has the ability to shape an individual’s or a family’s everyday life and take emotional, psychological, and physical tolls. Among adolescents, not having access to nutritious food could lead to physical effects during growth and development. Moreover, the stress and anxiety of not knowing where their next meal is coming from and the social stigma associated with being food insecure can have negative effects on mental health. A recent solution to these issues is locating food pantries in high schools. Purpose: This exploratory study examined how high school students in Pinellas County, Florida perceive the use of a …

The Design And Impact Of A Clinic-Based Community Program On Food Insecurity, Healthy Eating Behaviors, And Mood, Tiffany Wesley Ardoin, Elizabeth Perry, Chelsea Morgan, Jared Hymowitz, Donald Mercante

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Food insecurity is a national issue that disproportionately impacts Louisiana citizens, contributing to the state’s poor health outcomes. We know that the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and food pantries improve access to food, but we have limited data on what interventions improve food insecurity. The Geaux Get Healthy Clinical Program at Our Lady of the Lake (GGHOLOL) is a clinic-based community program that leverages community partnerships and a clinical setting to provide education and access to resources for individuals with food insecurity. This prospective study examines the impact of GGHOLOL on food insecurity as a pre-post survey evaluation over …

Advancing Kidney Health In Hispanic/Latino Communities In The Us: Promotoras, Health Education, And Food Security, Estefania Huerta

Master's Projects and Capstones

Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is not only a public health concern that affects the health of people living in the United States, but also a global health concern affecting millions worldwide. Diabetes is the leading cause of CKD and when CKD is not managed, it can turn into a life-threatening condition known as End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) where life is not sustainable without dialysis or a kidney transplant. Although CKD is prevalent among all populations in the United States, the Hispanic/Latino population suffers the most complications (Desai et al., 2019). In 1973, Congress extended Medicare services to people with ESRD …

Food Insecurity And Residential Segregation Among Adults In The United States: The National Health And Nutrition Examination Survey 2017- March 2020 Pre-Pandemic Data., Chandre' L. Chaney

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Food insecurity is when a household has insufficient food supply due to limited economic resources. It is a public health issue that continues to persist. The health, social, and economic impact affects millions of people nationwide. Residential segregation is a primary cause of inequities and health disparities. It shapes the differences in socio-economic conditions between Blacks and Whites living in the U.S. This country is segregated across racial lines in many of our most populated metropolitan cities. Americans worship in different churches, learn in disparate schools, and live in separate neighborhoods. Residential segregation has consequences that impact the economy, professional …

Differentials And Predictors Of Food Insecurity Among Federally Qualified Health Center Target Populations In Philadelphia: A Cross-Sectional Study, Galicano Kai Inguito, Brandon Joa, James Gardner, Eric N Fung, Laura Layer, Karen Fritz

Department of Medicine Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Over the past decade, the prevalence of food insecurity declined in the United States but curiously climbed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, a sizable metropolitan area where many households experience food insecurity and are dependent on programs like SNAP. Therefore, we aimed to determine the burden of food insecurity among populations near Philadelphia Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) clinic sites.

METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted in North Philadelphia, a populous and impoverished section of Philadelphia with many zip codes reporting 30-45% or more of the population below the federal poverty line. Students and clinicians affiliated with a local FQHC conducted …

Food Insecurity Among Deaf And Hard Of Hearing: A Scoping Review, Rylea Saunders, Laportia Jackson, Julia Vandermolen

JADARA

The authors employed a scoping review to examine peer-reviewed journal articles published between 2017 and 2020 focusing on the relationship between food insecurity among deaf and hard of hearing (DHOH) populations and language barriers using American Sign Language (ASL). Four databases yielded 257 peer-reviewed articles during the initial search. Four peer-reviewed articles were included in the review to explore the relationship between food insecurity among DHOH populations and language barriers using ASL. Multiple contributing factors create a food-insecure individual. Results indicate that income level, mental health status, and caregiver communication are all predictors of food security for DHOH. One of …

Wernicke's Encephalopathy: Mapping The Risk Factors Throughout The State Of South Carolina, Shannon M. Rychener

Senior Theses

Wernicke’s Encephalopathy is a consistently underrecognized neurodegenerative brain disorder resulting from prolonged thiamine deficiency. Clinical presentation of the disease results from brain lesions attributable to thiamine deficiency. Because these lesions occur in various locations in the cerebral cortex, symptoms can vary significantly. Varied presentation of symptoms, in addition to the lack of a widely accepted biomarker for the disorder cause challenges to clinicians when identifying and diagnosing the disorder. Due to these challenges, healthcare providers must heavily rely on patient history and risk factor prevalence when multiple symptoms of the disorder are present. By mapping the prevalence of the four …

Food Insecurity In Youth And Young Adults With Diabetes: Prevalence And Association With Health Behaviors, Lauren Helene Martini

Theses and Dissertations

Given the life-long impact of diabetes(1-5), it is important to engage in behaviors that promote health and wellness to delay or prevent negative health outcomes(3, 6-10). Despite this, youth and young adults with diabetes generally do not adhere to nutritional(11-17) or physical activity(18, 19) recommendations. In households experiencing financial difficulties, especially those who are having difficulty providing sufficient food to all of its members, adhering to recommendations may be even more difficult.

The purpose of this dissertation is to better understand and contextualize food insecurity among youth and young adults (YYA) with youth-onset T1DM and T2DM. The first aim addresses …

Food Insecurity And Food Justice In The Rhode Island Food Bank, Hannah Lennox

Honors Projects

In 2021, 18% of Rhode Islanders were food insecure, with a higher prevalence for Black, Latino, and Indigenous communities, as well as households with children (Rhode Island Community Food Bank, 2021). Levels of food insecurity were also heightened during the COVID-19 Pandemic both nationally, and locally, in Rhode Island. This project inquires about the experiences of food insecurity and food justice among Rhode Island residents. The purpose of this study is to understand on a deeper level the recent scope of food insecurity in Rhode Island with respect to food insecurity disparities. A secondary purpose of this project is to …

The Impact Of Food Insecurity On Health Outcomes, Ali El Kharsa, Gabrielle Montes

Scholarship in Medicine - All Papers

Objective: This research study aims to investigate how food insecurity in the United States has changed between 2016 and 2022 and its correlation with health outcomes by looking at the percent of reporting fair or poor health. Our study also compares healthy food access and food environment index in the US between 2016 and 2022.

Research Methods & Procedures: Paired t-tests compared the levels of food insecurity between 2016 and 2022 and compared food environment index and healthy food access in the United States between 2016 and 2022. A Pearson correlation determined the relationship between food insecurity and the percentage …

Walking The Talk: A Qualitative Exploration Of Gatekeeping Staff Perceptions Surrounding Implementation Of Nutrition Policy In Florida Food Banks, Rachel Lynn Mccandless

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Food insecurity is an independent risk factor for adverse health outcomes; providing nutrient-dense food through the emergency food system to individuals who regularly seek assistance can impact population-level health disparities. This research explored the extrinsic and intrinsic barriers and facilitators surrounding formal nutrition policy implementation as seen by the logistical gatekeepers in a sample of Feeding Florida food banks. A secondary aim of this research was to explore the change readiness of these same logistical decision-makers in nutrition policy implementation. Research Questions included the following: What are the critical gatekeeping staff perceptions of the barriers and facilitators to implementing formal …

The Role Of Food Insecurity With Hunger And Physical Activity Level On Binge Drinking Among Vermont High School Students, Joe Stacy, Codi Williams, Zyakkiriah Rhoden, Han Naung Tun

Master of Public Health Culminating Projects

Objective: To determine the association of hunger, physical activity, Black Indigenous People Of Color (BIPOC) status , and BMI percentile on binge drinking among Vermont high schoolers.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on Vermont high school students aged between 12 to 18 years (n=18,540) using data obtained from the 2019 Youth Risk Behavior Survey of the Vermont Department of Health. Multiple logistic regression models were utilized to investigate the correlation between binge drinking status and hunger status, physically active status, BIPOC status, and Body Mass Index percentile.

Results: Binge drinkers had significantly higher levels of hunger …

The Meals On Wheels-Breathitt: A Health Campaign For Reducing Food Insecurity Among The Older Adults In Breathitt County, Kentucky., Sarah Haroon

Theses and Dissertations--Public Health (M.P.H. & Dr.P.H.)

The population of the United States of America is aging at a faster rate than ever before. More than 1 in 6 Americans are now 65 or older (The Washington Post, 2023). Since 2010, compared to people under 65, there has been close to a two-hundred percent increase in people 65 and above (The Washington Post, 2023). The rise in the aging U.S. population is due to increased life span and people living longer (U.S. Census Bureau, 2020). Furthermore, life expectancy for the total U.S. population is projected to increase by six years, from 79.7 in 2017 to 85.6 by …

The Food Environment: Examining The Proximity Of Crimes To Food Stores, Nina Diamond

Master of Public Health Capstone Presentations

Food insecurity is a persistent and widespread issue in the United States. Individuals who are food insecure are more likely to develop chronic diseases due to their dietary habits, which tend to consist of ultra-processed foods. For many individuals, these habits are not by choice, but are the result of a lack of access to healthy foods. Both geographical and financial access issues often lead to these unhealthy diet choices, which increase an individual’s risk of morbidity and mortality. While the issue of food insecurity is complex, it is not often observed in the context of violence. Many food insecure …

Food Resources For The Allen Family Center, Anna Kolbjornsrud, Jagrup Kaur, Simran Kaur, Talyn Miller, Chloe Schrader

Nursing Leadership in Community Engagement Projects

Food Resources for the Allen Family Center

Allen Family Center (AFC), a part of the nonprofit organization Mary’s Place, is a family driven resource hub that focuses on the needs and goals of families experiencing or on the verge of homelessness (Mercy Housing, 2022). They use a multigenerational approach to break the cycle of homelessness which promotes inclusivity, safety and provides opportunities to improve health (Mercy Housing, 2022).

When meeting with the team, we identified a concern as the limited food supplies available to AFC and the lack of food outreach they can provide. Providing resources to the community is …

Food Insecurity Resilience Of Refugee Families In The United States: A Qualitative Study, Maryam Suliman Alhabas

Theses and Dissertations

Refugee families living in the United States often encounter a number of challenges while trying to build a new home and maintain their household food security. Refugee families at high risk of experiencing food insecurity in the resettlement country. Food insecurity among US refugee families is a major public health concern as it adversely impacts their health and wellbeing, since it affects dietary intake and mental health and associated with illness, poor nutrition, and obesity. Little is known about what happens when refugee families face food insecurity experience, and the role of their social contexts in that experience. The objective …

Eat Well, Be Well: Basic Needs Initiative's Online Hub For Nutrition Education, Misha Moseley

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Basic Needs Initiative at California State University, Monterey Bay is a department that provides students with food, housing, and wellness resources. Over half of the university's students experience food insecurity, and over 85% use non-academic resources to learn about nutrition. This project adds a dietary health section to the department’s website to increase students’ access to nutrition education. It addresses the micro-level agency problem that too few students eat a healthy, balanced diet. Unhealthy eating is a risk factor for food insecurity, so the project indirectly addresses the macro-level health problem that too many college students in California experience food …

Parental Engagement To Influence Child Nutrition Habits, Mariah Van Ardenne

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Brighter Bites Salinas is a non-profit agency whose mission is to create healthy communities through fresh food. They do this by providing nutrition education to children and delivering free, fresh produce to parents. In the United States, obesity and food insecurity are common, intertwined issues among children. The contributing factors to these entangled issues are associated with living in poverty, acculturation of minority groups, and negative parental influence. The consequences of this include increased risk of chronic diseases, high-cost treatments, and mental health issues. This capstone project was created to positively engage parents in nutrition education to influence their children’s …

Using A Food Insecurity Screening Tool In The Nicu, Emily Coffman Bsn, Rn, Fatina Caldwell Bs, Bsn, Rn, Cpn, Cpen, Mackenzie Box Bsn, Rn, Uche Anani Md, Faap, Christin Fritz Md, Mph, Bobby Bellflower Dnsc, Nnp-Bc, Faanp

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Purpose/Background: Infants admitted to the NICU are disproportionately born to low-income families. This, combined with unique financial challenges of their long-term stay, may predispose caregivers to food insecurity (FI). FI among caregivers has far reaching implications for the health of infants who are already vulnerable related to comorbidities from their NICU stay.

Methods: Using the Iowa model to successfully engage key stake holders and begin a small pilot study, a randomized preintervention chart audit was performed (n=30) to evaluate if FI was identified by NICU Social Worker (SW). The FI screening tool was administered by nursing to a separate group …

Persistent Diaper Need Identified During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Emily H. Belarmino, Rachel M. Zack, Lauren A. Clay, Nick W. Birk

College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Faculty Publications

Diaper need refers to the lack of a sufficient supply of diapers to keep an infant or child clean, dry, and healthy. More than 1 in 3 households (36%) experienced diaper need in the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Beliefs About Food Education And Healthy Food Consumption In Food Insecure Areas, Eboni Drummond

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Many food desert residents suffer from food insecurity as a result of residing in communities where access to affordable, healthy foods is limited. This limited access can make it difficult for these residents to consume healthy foods, such as fruits and vegetables, on a consistent basis. To increase access to healthy foods, interventions such as the building of supermarkets, the introduction of mobile farmers markets or mobile produce markets, and the conversion of local corner stores into healthy corner stores are often introduced to food desert communities. However, these intervention efforts fail to focus on non-physical factors, such as the …

Factors Affecting The Rates Of Childhood Poverty In Tennessee, Aleeya F. Shareef

Scholarship in Medicine - All Papers

Objective: The goal of this investigation is to analyze data to determine the factors that influence childhood poverty in Tennessee. Specifically, I am examining how child poverty has changed over the past years, as well as determining its associations with residential segregation (Black/white), food insecurity, teen births, low birthweights, child and infant mortalities, drug overdose deaths, access to healthy foods, premature deaths, and uninsured children. Data was used from the County Health Rankings website. Their data has been collected from surveys. Paired t-tests, unpaired t-tests, Pearson correlations, and stepwise linear regressions were performed. Results indicated that Tennessee has had decreased …

A Statistical Analysis Of Poverty Indicators On The Opioid Crisis In Ohio, Calsey Graham, Alex Shiplett

Scholarship in Medicine - All Papers

Objective: Our objective was to identify the effect poverty has on rates of opioid overdose in Ohio counties. Based on previous research, we determined our indicators of poverty to examine were: median-household income, rates of children in free lunch programs, and residential segregation. Utilizing data from both Ohio counties and the state of California, we investigated how our indicators of poverty influenced drug overdose deaths in order to provide public health directives going forward. Methods: We utilized County Health records that combined multiple outlets to retrieve the necessary data to compare rates of poverty and opioid overdose in Ohio’s counties. …