Losses, Gains, and Changes to the Food Environment in a Rural Kentucky County during the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Nutrients
; 13(11)2021 Nov 03.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1502474
ABSTRACT
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused alterations to be made in the way many people access, prepare, and consume food. Rural communities are particularly impacted due to pre-existing structural vulnerabilities, i.e., poverty, lack of infrastructure, and limited fresh food options. This study aimed to characterize experiences of one rural Appalachian community's changes to the food environment during the pandemic. In April 2021, six focus groups were conducted with residents of Laurel County, Kentucky. Using grounded theory, we identified losses, gains, and overall changes to the community food environment since the onset of COVID-19. Seventeen Laurel Countians (17 female; ages 30-74) participated in the six focus groups. Three main themes emerged regarding food environment changes-(1) modifications of community food and nutrition resources, (2) expansion and utilization of online food ordering, and (3) implications of the home food environment. Rural communities faced considerable challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, in part, due to gaps in existing infrastructure and loss of pre-existing resources. This study illustrates the complexity of changes occurring during COVID-19. Using the preliminary data obtained, we can better understand pre-existing issues in Laurel County and suggestions for future programming to address the inequitable access and response during public health emergencies and beyond.
Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Poverty
/
Rural Population
/
Food Supply
/
Diet, Healthy
/
COVID-19
Type of study:
Experimental Studies
/
Qualitative research
/
Randomized controlled trials
Limits:
Adult
/
Aged
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Middle aged
Country/Region as subject:
North America
Language:
English
Year:
2021
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Nu13113929
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