Individual- and environmental-level determinants of fruit and vegetable intakes in rural Georgia
Abstract
Background. Fruit and vegetable (FV) intakes are low in rural areas. Rural nutrition environments are important determinants of FV intakes and are unique from urban nutrition environments, e.g., higher rates of food insecurity (FI). This study sought to determine how individual- and environmental-level factors affected FV intakes among rural Georgians.
Methods. Data from respondents who completed the food access and healthy eating modules of a survey evaluating the coalition-based Two Georgias Initiative focused on rural health equity were merged with USDA’s Food Access Research Atlas. The analytic sample included 1,474 respondents from 24 census tracts in 6 rural Georgia counties. Linear multilevel regression models were conducted for FV intakes and included individual-level predictors (perceived fresh FV access, source type frequented for fresh FV, FI) and census tract-level predictors (low-access tract, low-income tract).
Results. FV intakes were low overall and varied little between census tracts. FI rates were generally high and varied widely by census tract, as did the source types people frequented for fresh FV. Most census tracts (89%) were classified as low-income and one-third as low-access. Fruit intake was positively associated with perceived fresh FV access and frequenting Walmart, other large grocery stores, farmer’s markets, and community/home gardens for fresh FV, and was negatively associated with FI. Vegetable intake was positively associated with frequenting other large grocery stores, small local grocery stores, farmer’s markets, and community/home gardens for fresh FV, and was negatively associated with FI. Census tract-level predictors were non-significant in each model.
Conclusions. Individual-level factors were important determinants of FV intakes, though effect sizes were mostly non-meaningful. Despite heterogeneity in most individual- and environmental-level predictors, FV intakes were similar across census tracts, highlighting the complex relationship between nutrition environments and FV intakes.
Key words: fruit and vegetable consumption, food access, food security, food source
Keywords
fruit and vegetable consumption, food access, food security, food source, rural
Individual- and environmental-level determinants of fruit and vegetable intakes in rural Georgia
Background. Fruit and vegetable (FV) intakes are low in rural areas. Rural nutrition environments are important determinants of FV intakes and are unique from urban nutrition environments, e.g., higher rates of food insecurity (FI). This study sought to determine how individual- and environmental-level factors affected FV intakes among rural Georgians.
Methods. Data from respondents who completed the food access and healthy eating modules of a survey evaluating the coalition-based Two Georgias Initiative focused on rural health equity were merged with USDA’s Food Access Research Atlas. The analytic sample included 1,474 respondents from 24 census tracts in 6 rural Georgia counties. Linear multilevel regression models were conducted for FV intakes and included individual-level predictors (perceived fresh FV access, source type frequented for fresh FV, FI) and census tract-level predictors (low-access tract, low-income tract).
Results. FV intakes were low overall and varied little between census tracts. FI rates were generally high and varied widely by census tract, as did the source types people frequented for fresh FV. Most census tracts (89%) were classified as low-income and one-third as low-access. Fruit intake was positively associated with perceived fresh FV access and frequenting Walmart, other large grocery stores, farmer’s markets, and community/home gardens for fresh FV, and was negatively associated with FI. Vegetable intake was positively associated with frequenting other large grocery stores, small local grocery stores, farmer’s markets, and community/home gardens for fresh FV, and was negatively associated with FI. Census tract-level predictors were non-significant in each model.
Conclusions. Individual-level factors were important determinants of FV intakes, though effect sizes were mostly non-meaningful. Despite heterogeneity in most individual- and environmental-level predictors, FV intakes were similar across census tracts, highlighting the complex relationship between nutrition environments and FV intakes.
Key words: fruit and vegetable consumption, food access, food security, food source
