The Effect of Food Stamp Nutrition Education on the Food Insecurity of Low-income Women Participants
Abstract
Objective
To determine the effect of Food Stamp Nutrition Education (FSNE) in Indiana on participants' food insecurity and food insufficiency.
Design
A single-blind randomized design. A randomized experimental group completed 5 FSNE lessons as an intervention between a pre- and posttest, whereas a control group completed a pre- and posttest without FSNE intervention.
Setting
Client homes and community locations in 24 Indiana counties.
Participants
Female head-of-household participants ≥ 18 years old; n = 219.
Intervention
FSNE lessons targeting food insecurity and nutrition.
Main Outcome Measures
Dependent variables food insecurity and food insufficiency were quantified with the 6-item United States Household Food Security Scale and United States Department of Agriculture Food Insufficiency Question, respectively. The independent variable was the randomly assigned treatment group.
Analysis
Participants' characteristics were compared with chi-square analysis. Analyses of covariance models were constructed to find the effect of treatment group on food insecurity and food insufficiency. Significance indicated at P ≤ .05.
Results
Food insecurity and food insufficiency in the experimental group compared with the control group were significantly improved (P = .03, P = .04, respectively).
Conclusions and Implications
FSNE was successful in improving participants' food insecurity and food insufficiency, indicating nutrition education is an appropriate intervention for food insecurity.
1Consumer and Family Sciences Extension, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN
2College of Applied Human Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO
3Department of Foods and Nutrition, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN
4Department of Statistics, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN
Address for correspondence: Heather A. Eicher-Miller, MS, Consumer and Family Sciences Extension, Purdue University, 812 West State St, Matthews Hall, Rm. 110, West Lafayette, IN 47907; Phone: (765) 494-8252; Fax: (765) 496-1947
This research was supported with funding from the Purdue University Extension Program.
ABSTRACT