Objective: The current study seeks to identify policy, system and environmental (PSE) correlates of fruit and vegetable consumption among a sample of low-income African Americans in two counties in Alabama (Jefferson and Mobile) and one county in Mississippi (Forrest). Design: A modified Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFFS) survey, which included multi-level ecological factors, was used to evaluate nutritional habits at the pre-intervention stage of a multi-state research study. We surveyed a total of 256 participants between May and August 2015. Local community coalitions established in each of the counties were instrumental in the planning and administration of the baseline survey. Results: Univariate analyses revealed that whether participants met the daily recommendation for fruit/vegetable consumption may be correlated with whether participants had children who attended schools/day care centers with health policies in place, received food assistance, and observed media campaigns related to nutrition. Further, results of multivariate analysis indicated that meeting fruit/vegetable recommendations was correlated with personally participating or having a family member who participated in a health policy meeting in the past two years. Conclusion: These findings suggest that policy-based interventions have the potential to improve health outcomes among priority populations, such as low-income African Americans, who are at high risk of developing chronic diseases.
Objective: The current study seeks to identify policy, system and environmental (PSE) correlates of fruit and vegetable consumption among a sample of low-income African Americans in two counties in Alabama (Jefferson and Mobile) and one county in Mississippi (Forrest). Design: A modified Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFFS) survey, which included multi-level ecological factors, was used to evaluate nutritional habits at the pre-intervention stage of a multi-state research study. We surveyed a total of 256 participants between May and August 2015. Local community coalitions established in each of the counties were instrumental in the planning and administration of the baseline survey. Results: Univariate analyses revealed that whether participants met the daily recommendation for fruit/vegetable consumption may be correlated with whether participants had children who attended schools/day care centers with health policies in place, received food assistance, and observed media campaigns related to nutrition. Further, results of multivariate analysis indicated that meeting fruit/vegetable recommendations was correlated with personally participating or having a family member who participated in a health policy meeting in the past two years. Conclusion: These findings suggest that policy-based interventions have the potential to improve health outcomes among priority populations, such as low-income African Americans, who are at high risk of developing chronic diseases.
Entities:
Keywords:
Environment; Fruit and Vegetable Consumption; Policy; Social Determinants; Socioecological Model; System
Authors: Catherine M Champagne; Patrick H Casey; Carol L Connell; Janice E Stuff; Jeffrey M Gossett; David W Harsha; Beverly McCabe-Sellers; James M Robbins; Pippa M Simpson; Judith L Weber; Margaret L Bogle Journal: J Am Diet Assoc Date: 2007-11
Authors: Delia Smith West; Zoran Bursac; Carol E Cornell; Holly C Felix; Jennifer K Fausett; Rebecca A Krukowski; Shelly Lensing; Sharhonda J Love; T Elaine Prewitt; Cornelia Beck Journal: Am J Prev Med Date: 2011-10 Impact factor: 5.043