ARS | Publication request: PARTNERING IN THE MISSISSIPPI DELTA REGION

Submitted to: Partnership for Health in the New Millennium Conference
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: December 2, 1999
Publication Date: N/A

Technical Abstract: The Lower Mississippi Delta region of Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi has some of the highest rates of infant mortality, low-birth weight- infants, and nutritionally-related chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, obesity, hypertension and diabetes in the United States. Delta NIRI, a consortium of six academic institutions, Westat and the USDA Agricultural Research Service whose mission is to improve nutrition and health in the Delta, has undertaken the following: Review of Existing Data; Key Informant Survey; Telephone/In-person 24-hour dietary survey (n=409); Telephone dietary and health assessment of a representative sample (n=2000); Defined population assessment planned with NHANES methodology; Intervention research planned for 2000-01. Key informants identified high fat diet and hypertension and teen pregnancy as the chief nutrition and health problems in the Delta. Telephone and face-to-face techniques showed no significant differences for mean reported energy or protein intake between telephone and non- telephone households. Initial findings from pilot studies: food insecurity is at alarming levels with 8.7% of 252 households food insecure with hunger; mean serving consumption of fruit (0.9) and vegetables (3.1) was lower than national data; approximately 30% of vegetable consumption was comprised of french-fried potatoes and potato chips. Findings from additional assessments of a representative sample will drive intervention research design. The consortium has developed an effective working relationship to address culturally appropriate behavioral change strategies in the Lower Mississippi Delta population.