Objective
To determine whether there is a difference in program outcomes related to improved food security and food resource management (FRM) skills between Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) Haitian and non-Haitian participants. Target audience is Haitian and non-Haitian female EFNEP Participants in Palm Beach County, Florida.
Theory, Prior Research, Rationale
The Eating Smart, Being Active curriculum is based on Social Cognitive Theory, with published efficacy, and used in Florida's EFNEP program. Since 2010, the population of Haitian residents in south Florida has increased by over 22,000, increasing Haitian EFNEP participants. Assessment of Haitian EFNEP participants' knowledge and behavior related to program objectives is needed to identify educational opportunities.
Description
A retrospective analysis of pre- and post- program evaluation outcomes was conducted among Haitian (n=102) and non-Haitian adult EFNEP participants (n=136) completing the program between October 2014 and September 2015. Trained, multi-lingual nutrition educators implemented the 8-week program.
Evaluation
Likert-type EFNEP checklist items, ranging from “never=1” to “almost always=5”, were used to assess food security (1 item) and FRM (3 items). Differences in change from pre- to post- between Haitian and non-Haitian participants were determined using Student's t-test. Food security scores increased more from pre- to post- for Haitian versus non-Haitian participants (1.4±1.9 versus 0.6±1.6, p=.001). Similarly, scores for FRM improved more for Haitian versus non-Haitian participants (<.05).
Conclusions and Implications
Participants from Haiti may benefit from EFNEP in ways that enhance food security and FRM. Adapting programming to be linguistically and culturally appropriate may enhance outcomes.
Funding
None
Article info
Publication history
P83
Identification
Copyright
© 2017 Published by Elsevier Inc.
