Abstract:Objective:
Investigate acquisition and mobility experiences of food-insecure individuals across urbanicity levels (i.e., urban, suburban, rural) in the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Design:
Cross-sectional study using a nationally representative online panel to measure where food-insecure individuals acquired food, food acquisition barriers, and mobility to food sources, which were evaluated across urbanicity levels using chi-squared tests and 95% CIs.
Setting:
… Show more
“…Full details of the study designs, settings, populations, and domains of food security examined are summarized in Table 2 . More than half of the 22 included studies were conducted in rural USA ( n = 13) [ 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 ], with others being conducted in Australia [ 39 , 40 ], Canada [ 41 ], the UK [ 42 ], Poland [ 43 ], Israel [ 44 ], Chile [ 45 ] and Germany [ 46 ]. One study was conducted in an international sample, comprising participants from 62 different countries [ 47 ].…”
Section: Resultsmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…One study was conducted in an international sample, comprising participants from 62 different countries [ 47 ]. Most studies ( n = 16) collected data on adult populations or household-level information [ 27 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 , 45 , 47 ], while two specifically focused on households or families comprising both adults and children [ 26 , 32 ]. Three studies reported on the impact of COVID-19 on food outlets such as stores [ 28 ], farmers markets [ 33 ], and food banks [ 46 ].…”
Section: Resultsmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…Three studies reported on the impact of COVID-19 on food outlets such as stores [ 28 ], farmers markets [ 33 ], and food banks [ 46 ]. Sixteen were quantitative in design [ 26 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 41 , 43 , 44 , 45 , 46 , 47 ], with a sample size for the rural sample ranging from 50 to 1766 ( Table 2 ). Three studies were mixed-methods [ 27 , 34 , 42 ] and three were qualitative [ 35 , 36 , 40 ], with the rural sample size ranging from 14 to 92 ( Table 2 ).…”
Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, rural-dwelling people in high-income countries were known to have greater challenges accessing healthy food than their urban counterparts. The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted food supplies across the world, and public health restrictions have changed the way people shop for food, potentially exacerbating food insecurity. This systematic literature review aimed to synthesize the available evidence on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on aspects of food insecurity in rural populations residing in high-income countries. Five electronic databases were searched, identifying 22 articles that assessed food insecurity prevalence or data on food availability, access, utilization and the stability of the food supply in rural populations during the COVID-19 pandemic. Ten studies examined the prevalence of food insecurity in rural populations, with the reported prevalence ranging from 15% to 95%. Where rural/urban comparisons were presented, most studies (n = 5; 71%) reported that food insecurity was significantly higher in rural regions. Five studies examined the availability of food and eight studies examined access to food, identifying that rural populations often had lower food availability and access to food during the pandemic. In contrast, two studies identified positive effects such as more gardening and increased online access to food. Rural populations experienced multiple changes to food utilization, such as reduced diet quality and food safety observed in eight studies, but this was not shown to be different from urban populations. Additionally, the food supply in rural regions was perceived to be affected in two studies. The results of this review may be used to inform region-specific mitigation strategies to decrease the impact of the current COVID-19 pandemic and future global events on food security. However, the lack of consistency in study outcomes in research on rural populations limits the identification of priority areas for intervention at a global-scale.
“…Full details of the study designs, settings, populations, and domains of food security examined are summarized in Table 2 . More than half of the 22 included studies were conducted in rural USA ( n = 13) [ 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 ], with others being conducted in Australia [ 39 , 40 ], Canada [ 41 ], the UK [ 42 ], Poland [ 43 ], Israel [ 44 ], Chile [ 45 ] and Germany [ 46 ]. One study was conducted in an international sample, comprising participants from 62 different countries [ 47 ].…”
Section: Resultsmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…One study was conducted in an international sample, comprising participants from 62 different countries [ 47 ]. Most studies ( n = 16) collected data on adult populations or household-level information [ 27 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 , 45 , 47 ], while two specifically focused on households or families comprising both adults and children [ 26 , 32 ]. Three studies reported on the impact of COVID-19 on food outlets such as stores [ 28 ], farmers markets [ 33 ], and food banks [ 46 ].…”
Section: Resultsmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…Three studies reported on the impact of COVID-19 on food outlets such as stores [ 28 ], farmers markets [ 33 ], and food banks [ 46 ]. Sixteen were quantitative in design [ 26 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 41 , 43 , 44 , 45 , 46 , 47 ], with a sample size for the rural sample ranging from 50 to 1766 ( Table 2 ). Three studies were mixed-methods [ 27 , 34 , 42 ] and three were qualitative [ 35 , 36 , 40 ], with the rural sample size ranging from 14 to 92 ( Table 2 ).…”
Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, rural-dwelling people in high-income countries were known to have greater challenges accessing healthy food than their urban counterparts. The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted food supplies across the world, and public health restrictions have changed the way people shop for food, potentially exacerbating food insecurity. This systematic literature review aimed to synthesize the available evidence on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on aspects of food insecurity in rural populations residing in high-income countries. Five electronic databases were searched, identifying 22 articles that assessed food insecurity prevalence or data on food availability, access, utilization and the stability of the food supply in rural populations during the COVID-19 pandemic. Ten studies examined the prevalence of food insecurity in rural populations, with the reported prevalence ranging from 15% to 95%. Where rural/urban comparisons were presented, most studies (n = 5; 71%) reported that food insecurity was significantly higher in rural regions. Five studies examined the availability of food and eight studies examined access to food, identifying that rural populations often had lower food availability and access to food during the pandemic. In contrast, two studies identified positive effects such as more gardening and increased online access to food. Rural populations experienced multiple changes to food utilization, such as reduced diet quality and food safety observed in eight studies, but this was not shown to be different from urban populations. Additionally, the food supply in rural regions was perceived to be affected in two studies. The results of this review may be used to inform region-specific mitigation strategies to decrease the impact of the current COVID-19 pandemic and future global events on food security. However, the lack of consistency in study outcomes in research on rural populations limits the identification of priority areas for intervention at a global-scale.
“…Qualitative findings from eastern Tennessee reveal additional barriers to food security, including increased food prices, quantity restrictions, and a limited stock of grocery items [ 25 ]. Furthermore, Mui et al [ 26 ] found that food-insecure adults in urban areas were negatively impacted by changes in employment status and limited availability of culturally preferred foods. Coupled with observations from this rural Appalachian sample, these findings demonstrate food insecurity to be a complex public health challenge compounded by many influential factors.…”
Rural communities are disproportionally affected by food insecurity, making them vulnerable to the consequences of supply disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. While access to food was initially diminished due to food supply disruptions, little is known about the mechanisms through which federal emergency assistance programs impacted food access in rural populations. Through a series of five focus groups in spring 2021, we examined the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on food access in a rural Appalachian community in Kentucky. Data were analyzed using a Grounded Theory Approach. Findings revealed the following four primary themes: food scarcity in grocery stores; expanded federal food assistance; expanded community food resources; and expanded home gardening. Participants provided details regarding the way increased federal assistance, especially expanded benefits within the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, allowed them to purchase greater quantities of nutritious food. This study unveils the specific impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on one rural population, including the influence of some social determinants of health on food insecurity. Policymakers and stakeholders should recognize the layered protection of multiple federal emergency assistance programs against food insecurity and the potential for long-term population health promotion in rural areas.
“…Changes in employment status, lack of a personal vehicle, and limited access to public transportation have also been linked to FI and self-reported difficulties in accessing food ( Fig. 1 ) [ 23 ]. Fig.…”
Section: Food Insecurity: Measurement Current Burden and Recent Trendsmentioning
Highlights
Food insecurity and CVD share a circular association.
Association may be stronger for racial/ethnic minorities and single mothers.
Greater investment and organization are needed to address this association.
Targeting food insecurity may reduce the nationwide burden of CVD.
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