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Title: PERCEPTIONS OF FOOD INSECURITY IN THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI DELTA: FOCUS GROUP FINDINGS

Author
item RICHARDSON, V - DELTA NIRI
item JOHNSON, G - DELTA NIRI
item THORNTON, A - DELTA NIRI
item JOHNSON, C - DELTA NIRI
item YADRICK, K - DELTA NIRI
item NDIRANGU, M - DELTA NIRI
item GOOLSBY, S - DELTA NIRI
item GROVES, D - DELTA NIRI
item SIMPSON, P - DELTA NIRI
item HYMAN, E - DELTA NIRI
item STRICKLAND, E - DELTA NIRI
item STIGGER, F - DELTA NIRI
item Kramer, Tim
item Bogle, Margaret
item McCabe Sellers, Beverly

Submitted to: Meeting Proceedings
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/23/2004
Publication Date: 6/10/2004
Citation: Richardson, V., Johnson, G., Thornton, A., Johnson, C., Yadrick, K., Ndirangu, M., Goolsby, S., Groves, D., Simpson, P., Hyman, E., Strickland, E., Stigger, F., Kramer, T., Bogle, M., McCabe-Sellers, B. 2004. Perceptions of food insecurity in the Lower Mississippi Delta: Focus group findings [abstract]. Third Annual Conference of the International Society of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity. p. 52.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Purpose: To identify perceptions of Lower Mississippi Delta (LMD) residents of hunger and food insecurity in their communities, as a basis for developing sustainable nutrition interventions. Methods: Nine focus groups were conducted in nine counties in Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi. The groups included 92 adults, of which 83 were females and 9 were males, 65 were African American, and 27 were Caucasian. Data analyses were completed by general and specific content coding. Descriptive and interpretive summaries and emerging themes were identified. Results: Emerging themes were physical, emotional and economic perceptions of hunger; skepticism about local existence of hunger of food insecurity; resource misuse and limitations as causes of food insecurity; concern for children and elderly as vulnerable to food insecurity; community oriented solutions for food insecurity; and the need to revamp government programs that address needs of the poor. Conclusions: Community residents had varying perceptions about causes of and solutions for hunger and food insecurity in their communities. Supported by USDA, ARS Project #6251-53000-003-00D.