Abstract
Little is known about the barriers and facilitators to local food procurement among women of reproductive age (WRA). Therefore we conducted qualitative interviews with WRA in rural eastern and western NC (ENC and WNC) to learn of factors related to locally sourced food procurement. In-depth interviews were conducted among low-income White, Black, and Hispanic English-speaking WRA (N=62 (ENC: 37; WNC: 23) (18-44 years)). Independent coders used a consensus codebook to double-code all transcripts. Coders then came together to discuss and resolve coding discrepancies, and identified themes and salient quotes. Cross-cutting themes from both ENC and WNC participants included access to local food sources; acceptance of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program/Electronic Benefit Transfer (SNAP/EBT); freshness of produce; support for local agriculture; and the community aspect of local food sourcing. The in-depth understanding gained from this study could be used to guide tailored policy and intervention efforts aimed at promoting fruit and vegetable consumption among low-income WRA.
Highlights
The prevalence of diet-related chronic diseases, including obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and cancer, disproportionately burdens rural populations in the United States. (Freeman, 1989; Winkleby, Jatulis, Frank, & Fortmann, 1992)
One representative national study found that rural areas had 14 percent fewer chain supermarkets than urban areas (Powell et al, 2007), and another study found that U.S counties defined as “low access” were more concentrated in rural areas (Morton & Blanchard, 2007)
The participants were evenly split in employment status, and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) use
Summary
The prevalence of diet-related chronic diseases, including obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and cancer, disproportionately burdens rural populations in the United States. (Freeman, 1989; Winkleby, Jatulis, Frank, & Fortmann, 1992). (Freeman, 1989; Winkleby, Jatulis, Frank, & Fortmann, 1992). The cause of this high prevalence is likely multifactorial in nature, but may be due in large part to insufficient consumption of low-calorie, nutrient-dense foods like fruits and vegetables (Chiuve, Sampson, & Willett, 2011). The comparatively lower levels of healthy food consumption among rural residents may be due to disparities in access to healthier foods. Multiple research studies (Fisher & Strogatz, 1999; Larson, Story, & Nelson, 2009; Liese, Weis, Pluto, Smith, & Lawson, 2007; Powell, Slater, Mirtcheva, Bao, & Chaloupka, 2007; Sharkey & Horel, 2008) have suggested that rural residents are most often affected by poor access to food stores that offer healthful food products, such as supermarkets and chain grocery stores. One representative national study found that rural areas had 14 percent fewer chain supermarkets than urban areas (Powell et al, 2007), and another study found that U.S counties defined as “low access” (counties in which at least one-half of the population lives more than 10 miles or 16 km from a supermarket or supercenter) were more concentrated in rural areas (Morton & Blanchard, 2007)
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