Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior
Volume 41, Issue 3 , Pages 161-168, May 2009

The Effect of Food Stamp Nutrition Education on the Food Insecurity of Low-income Women Participants

  • Heather A. Eicher-Miller, MS

      Affiliations

    • Consumer and Family Sciences Extension, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN
    • Corresponding Author InformationAddress 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
    • ,
  • April C. Mason, PhD

      Affiliations

    • College of Applied Human Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO
    • ,
  • Angela R. Abbott, MA, RD, CD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Foods and Nutrition, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN
    • ,
  • George P. McCabe, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Statistics, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN
    • ,
  • Carol J. Boushey, PhD, MPH, RD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Foods and Nutrition, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN

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.

Key Words: food insecurity, food insufficiency, nutrition education, Food Stamp Nutrition Education

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 This research was supported with funding from the Purdue University Extension Program.

PII: S1499-4046(08)00705-7

doi:10.1016/j.jneb.2008.06.004

Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior
Volume 41, Issue 3 , Pages 161-168, May 2009

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