Participant and Household Characteristics Associated With Graduation From the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program

Abstract

ObjectiveTo examine empirically participant and household characteristics associated with Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) graduation and to determine whether they differ across 2 counties. DesignSurvey of EFNEP participants from 2011 to 2012. SettingExpanded Food and Nutrition Education Program sites serving limited-resource families in 1 rural and 1 urban/suburban county in Washington State. ParticipantsExpanded Food and Nutrition Education Program participants (urban/suburban: n = 647; rural: n = 569). Main Outcome MeasureExpanded Food and Nutrition Education Program completion/graduation. AnalysisMultivariate logistic regression was used to examine associations of participant (ethnicity, race, age, education, pregnancy status, and nutrition knowledge/behavior at baseline) and household (number of people in the house, place of residence, and public assistance services) characteristics with EFNEP graduation. ResultsAssociations were moderated by county. For the urban/suburban county, participants living with more people (after controlling for the total number of adults) were more likely to graduate. For the rural county, participants living with fewer total adults (after controlling for the total number in the house) and those with better food safety practices at baseline were more likely to graduate. Conclusions and ImplicationsThis study aids in understanding which participants are more or less likely to complete EFNEP successfully, and therefore can inform strategies aimed at increasing graduation rates.