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Psychosocial and Sociodemographic Factors Affecting Fruit and Vegetable Consumption of WIC Participants in Two Rural Mississippi Delta Communities
Author(s) -
Lomax Leah,
Wetter Annie C
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.21.5.a169-d
Subject(s) - psychosocial , consumption (sociology) , environmental health , psychological intervention , medicine , population , gerontology , unit (ring theory) , psychology , social science , psychiatry , sociology , mathematics education
We assessed the relationship between psychosocial factors and fruit and vegetable (FV) consumption of women participating in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) in Tallahatchie County, MS. Subjects (n=183) completed self administered, written surveys while picking up food packages at the Charleston and Sumner WIC Food Centers in May. Estimated mean daily FV intake was 4.6 servings. Factors significantly associated with FV intake were intention domain (perceived diet quality, readiness to eat more FV), perception of FV recommendations, being the primary food preparer, shopping at farmers markets, and having a garden. Multiple regression analysis of the above factors revealed that intention domain score was the strongest predictor of FV consumption (each unit increase predicted an intake of 1.1 more FV servings). Other factors that remained significant predictors of FV intake were having a garden (associated with 0.5 serving increase) and perceived recommended FV intake (each unit increase was associated with 0.3 more FV servings). Our findings that this population views FV as healthful and their consumption is positively influenced by recommendations suggest that interventions should focus on empowerment: increase FV accessibility, educate on new recommendations, and demonstrate ways to include more FV when living in a rural environment.