Recruitment Strategies and Participation in a Study of Childhood Hunger

Abstract

ABSTRACTFood insecurity affects one fifth of U.S. households with children and tends to be associated with low income, minority race/ethnicity, and low educational attainment—difficult groups to recruit to population-based studies. We present successful recruitment strategies and participation data after enrolling 544 participants encompassing 3 food security categories from 4 types of food venues throughout South Carolina. Eligible persons were most likely to participate if they had lower food security, lived in an urban area, and were recruited over the phone. In multivariate logistic models, participation predictors were screening mode and recruitment site, with the highest yield at family-oriented emergency food assistance sites.