Food Security, Nutritional Outcomes and Program Satisfaction among Food

Assistance, Inc Participants

Presented by:Anna Matteson

Undergraduate student, Nutrition

Team Members• Jane Carlson

Executive Director, Food Assistance Inc.

• Anna MattesonUndergraduate student, Nutrition

• Jan SwansonUndergraduate student, Nutrition

• Lauren HaldemanAssociate Professor, Nutrition

Food Assistance, Inc.

• Mission:To provide food,

friendship and hope to low income seniors and disabled in Guilford County

Program Characteristics

• ~ 400 participants

Must be 60+ yearsLow or fixed income Limited mobility No family in the

areaDisabled

Volunteers• ~ 100 volunteers

Warehouse assistant

Organize a food collection or paper drive

Collect paper grocery bags & travel size personal hygiene items

Delivery AssistantAdopt-A Senior

• UNCG Department of Nutrition undergraduate students:Provide basic

nutrition information

Conduct volunteer and participant surveys

Enter and analyze data

OBJECTIVE

• To assess food security, nutritional outcomes and program satisfaction of Food Assistance Inc. participants

RESEARCH QUESTIONSAs a result of participation in Food

Assistance, Inc.,• Do participants feel secure in their ability to meet

their monthly food needs?• Do participants consume healthy foods (i.e.,

fruits/vegetables, lean meats, low fat dairy products and whole grain foods)?

• Do participants pay attention to provided nutrition education materials and use this information to make nutritional behavior changes?

• Are participants satisfied with Food Assistance, Inc.?

METHODS

• In person interviews (Target sample = 30-35)

• Quantitative Survey Socioeconomics/demographicsSelf-reported health status, height and

weightFruit/vegetable, low fat dairy, whole

grain intake frequencyFood insecurityProgram satisfaction

Methods

• Qualitative interviewAudio recordedSemi structured interview guideAudio tapes transcribed verbatim and

content analyzed

• Interview length ~ 1.0 hour

Sample Interview Guide Questions• Tell me about your health and nutrition/food

concerns• Describe how Food Assistance, Inc. has affected

your monthly food needs• Describe how your diet has been affected as a

result of participation in Food Assistance, Inc.• How has your quality of life been affected as a

result of participation in Food Assistance, Inc.• How much do you rely on the program provided

nutrition education materials for making healthy behavior changes?

• Describe your level of need for and satisfaction with Food Assistance, Inc.

FINDINGS Participant Demographics (N=10)

CharacteristicAge (mean) 69.6 years

(Range 37-96)Gender•Female 80.0Race/Ethnicity•Black•White•Asian

50.040.010.0

Income•<$1000/month 60.0Household size•1 70.0

Need for Food Assistance (N=10)

Variable %

Self-rate need for food delivery

• Needed/very needed/extremely needed

100.0

Receive food assistance from other agencies

• No 100.0Choosing between buying food and paying for rent/mortgage/ meds?

• all the time/sometimes 60.0

Caregiver assistance• No 60.0

Food InsecurityVariable %

Food didn’t last, no money to buy more• Often/sometimes true 80.0

Cannot afford to eat balanced meal

• Often/sometimes true 80.0Skipped meals because no money

• Yes 50.0Eat less because no money

• Yes 50.0Hungry but did not eat because no money• Yes 30.0

Health Status (N=10)

Variable %Diabetes

•Yes 40.0Heart Disease/stroke

•Yes 50.0High BP

•Yes 80.0High Cholesterol

•Yes 60.0

Kidney problems•Yes 30.0

Body Mass Index (BMI)(N=10)

0

30

20

50

05

101520253035404550

%

underweight normal overweight obese

Category

* Based on self-reported ht/wt.

Fruits and VegetablesVariable %

Current fruit consumption• <= couple times/week 70.0

Current vegetable consumption

• at least once a day60.0

Current low fat dairy consumption

•<= couple times/week 90.0

Current whole grain consumption

•at least once a day 60.0

Benefits of Food Assistance Inc.

Variable %Program helps you feel better about your food situation

• Yes 100.0Satisfaction with program

•Satisfied/very satisfied 100.0Volunteer established friendship*

• Yes 100.0

Other acts of kindness• Yes 70.0

Helpful in assisting you become more independent

• Yes 90.0

Serving the People

Providing Food and Hope….• “It’s a big help to me…I’d be in pretty

bad shape.”• “I severely need the services. I can

better plan meals, make better choices, and eat more balanced meals.”

• “My stamps aren’t enough to carry me through the month. By the time the food comes it’s very needed and helpful.”

• “The nutrition information helps a lot with new ideas and recipes.”

• “Without Food Assistance I wouldn’t be able to eat like I should eat.”

• “Without Food Assistance there would be a lot of food I need but couldn’t get.”

Providing Food & Hope…

• “We’d be hurtin bad without the Food Assistance program.”

• “It’s helped relieve stress…give me a greater sense of freedom to my diet.”

• “It’s been a blessing… I really appreciate it.”

Providing Food & Hope…

Providing Friendship…• “She’s very friendly and very

sweet..puts my food up…willing to help if there’s anything I need.”

• “I’ve certainly met nice people.”• “It gives me something to look

forward to [when the volunteer calls and lets her know she will be there].”

• “We’re past friends. She’s better to me than my own people.”

Requests

• More fruits• Less canned foods• More juice

CHALLENGES• Contacting participants• Explaining the study• Navigating interview• Level of understanding• Living environments

Lessons Learned• Conducting Research

– A lot of time goes into setting up the study

– Proper interview technique• Population Awareness

– Low assistance availability for seniors and disabled

– A population with the highest need has the most challenges

To Learn More…..

• Visit http://foodassistancenc.com/

THANK YOU

• Office of Leadership and Service-Learning (OLSL) 2009 COMMUNITY-BASED RESEARCH

GRANTS

• Food Assistance Inc. participants