Barriers to Healthful Eating and Supplement Use In Lower-income Adults

2010 ◽  
Vol 71 (2) ◽  
pp. 70-76 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susan J. Whiting ◽  
Hassanali Vatanparast ◽  
Jeff G. Taylor ◽  
Jennifer L. Adolphe

Purpose: We investigated barriers to healthful eating and vitamin/mineral supplement use among groups at risk for low nutrient intakes, particularly those with low income. Methods: Twelve focus groups (73 participants) and 11 key informant interviews were conducted in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Focus group participants represented a diverse population. Key informants included health professionals and personnel from community-based organizations who worked in a lowincome area. Focus group meetings and key informant interviews were audiotaped and transcribed; thematic coding was used to identify key concepts. Results: The focus groups and interviews revealed five themes on barriers to healthful eating and to the use of vitamin/mineral supplements: knowledge, income, accessibility, health, and preferences. Key informants were aware of the barriers, and were able to see not only individual and family reasons but also societal influences. Conclusions: The study results provide valuable information for focusing efforts on reducing barriers to healthful eating and to appropriate vitamin/mineral supplement use.

2016 ◽  
Vol 17 (6) ◽  
pp. 880-890 ◽  
Author(s):  
Molly A. Martin ◽  
Eleanor C. Floyd ◽  
Sara K. Nixon ◽  
Sandra Villalpando ◽  
Madeleine Shalowitz ◽  
...  

This article describes formative work conducted to inform design of an intervention targeting asthma control in overweight/obese children. Using a PRECEDE-PROCEED framework and a community-based participatory research approach, investigators conducted key informant interviews and focus groups in a low-income urban community. Key informants ( N = 18) represented schools and community agencies. Focus groups were conducted with caregivers (4 groups, N = 31) and children (3 groups, N = 30). Focus group participants were low-income and African American, Puerto Rican, or Mexican. Children were age 5 to 12 years and overweight or obese with a diagnosis of asthma; caregivers had a child meeting these criteria. A range of issues competed with families’ day-to-day prioritization and management of asthma, with social limitations reported as the most important issue. Many school-level and individual-level barriers were described. Caregivers and children drew strong connections between asthma and obesity and described their need to comanage these conditions. The connection between the diseases was not as obvious for the key informants, many of whom control the services families receive. These results led to an understanding of key targets and components that are needed for a multilevel community-based intervention to be relevant and appropriate in low-income children with both asthma and obesity.


2005 ◽  
Vol 75 (3) ◽  
pp. 201-209 ◽  
Author(s):  
Touvier ◽  
Boutron-Ruault ◽  
Volatier ◽  
Martin

This study investigated the prevalence of inadequate micronutrient intake and the proportion of subjects who exceed Tolerable Upper Intake Levels a) with food only, and b) with food+supplements, in a population of French regular supplement users (n = 259). Assessment tools were seven-day records for supplements, three-day records for food intake, and a questionnaire about supplement use. Most subjects were recruited in retail outlets that sold supplements. They were recent users of vitamin/mineral supplements, aged over 15 years, and normo-energy reporters. The prevalence (%) of inadequate intake decreased with the inclusion of mean annual supplements, from 68.0 to 54.8 for magnesium, 55.9 to 40.7 for vitamin C, 53.4 to 43.9 for folic acid, 37.5 to 27.5 for iron, and 40.1 to 29.7 for pantothenic acid. Few subjects exceeded upper intake levels when mean annual intake of supplements was considered. When supplement consumption was considered during the studied week only, the proportion of subjects who were in excess of the upper intake levels was higher (maximum: 9.6% for magnesium). Supplement use brought a nutritional benefit for some targeted nutrients. It was not associated with excessive intake in this study, but could become hazardous if the annual frequency of use were to increase.


2007 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 396-404 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tamara Dubowitz ◽  
Dolores Acevedo-Garcia ◽  
Judy Salkeld ◽  
Ana Cristina Lindsay ◽  
SV Subramanian ◽  
...  

AbstractObjectivesThis study investigates how lifecourse, immigrant status and acculturation, and neighbourhood of residence influence food purchasing and preparation among low-income women with children, living in the USA. This research sought to understand physical and economic access to food, from both ‘individual’ and ‘community’ perspectives.DesignThis study used qualitative methodology (focus groups) to examine the mechanisms and pathways of food preparation and purchasing within the context of daily life activity for US- and foreign-born women, living in the USA. The study methodology analysed notes and verbatim transcripts, summarised recurring responses and identified new themes in the discussions.Setting and subjectsA total of 44 women were purposively sampled from two metropolitan areas in Massachusetts, USA, based on (1) neighbourhood of residence and (2) primary language spoken. All focus groups were conducted in community health centres and community centres co-located with offices of the special supplemental nutritional programme for Women, Infants, and Children.ResultsAnalysis of key response themes suggested that scarcity of food and physical access to food purchasing points did not influence food purchasing and preparation as much as (1) limited time for food shopping, cooking and family activities; and (2) challenges in transportation to stores and childcare. The study results demonstrated differing attitudes toward food acquisition and preparation between immigrant and US-born women and between women who lived in two metropolitan areas in the western and eastern regions of the state of Massachusetts, USA.ConclusionsThe findings illustrate ‘hidden’ constraints that need to be captured in measures of physical and economic access and availability of food. US policies and programmes that aim to improve access, availability and diet quality would benefit from considering the social context of food preparation and purchasing, and the residential environments of low-income women and families.


Author(s):  
Mahbub-Ul Alam ◽  
Fazle Sharior ◽  
Sharika Ferdous ◽  
Atik Ahsan ◽  
Tanvir Ahmed ◽  
...  

Globally, 2.2 billion urban residents are living without safely-managed sanitation, the majority of whom are slum residents. To improve the situation, Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (DWASA) is implementing the Dhaka Sanitation Improvement Project (DSIP), mostly funded by the World Bank. This study assessed the feasibility of connecting low-income communities (LICs) within the proposed sewerage network by 2025. We conducted nine key-informant interviews from DWASA and City Corporation, and 23 focus-group discussions with landlords, tenants and Community Based Organisations (CBOs) from 16 LICs near the proposed catchment area. To achieve connections, LICs would require improved toilet infrastructures and have to be connected to main roads. Construction of large communal septic tanks is also required where individual toilet connections are difficult. To encourage connection in LICs, income-based or area-based subsidies were recommended. For financing maintenance, respondents suggested monthly fee collection for management of the infrastructure by dividing bill equally among sharing households, or by users per household. Participants also suggested the government's cooperation with development-partners/NGOs to ensure sewerage connection construction, operation and maintenance and prerequisite policy changes such as assuring land tenure.


2003 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. 240-248 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bettina M. Beech ◽  
Isabel C. Scarinci

Purpose. Studies have shown that African-American adolescents are less likely to smoke cigarettes than white youth. National data suggest that this pattern changes in late adolescence and early adulthood. Specifically, African-American adults have a relatively high smoking prevalence rate when compared with other racial/ethnic groups. The purpose of this study was to qualitatively examine the sociocultural factors associated with smoking attitudes and practices among low-income African-American young adults. Design. Cross-sectional qualitative study. Settings. High schools, 2-year colleges, housing developments, and trade schools in New Orleans, Louisiana, and Memphis, Tennessee. Subjects. One hundred eighteen low-income African Americans between 18 and 35 years of age (65 men and 53 women). Measure/Procedure. Fourteen focus groups were conducted with the target population. Nonmonetary incentives were provided for each participant in the 1-hour sessions. The majority of focus group moderators were African-American females trained in focus group moderation. Participants were recruited through flyers and project liaisons at each field location. Results. Themes elicited from the focus groups were classified according to the PEN-3 model, and they included: lighting cigarettes for parents as a first experience with cigarettes, perceived stress relief benefits of smoking, use of cigarettes to extend the sensation of marijuana, and protective factors against smoking such as respect for parental rules. Conclusion. The results indicate that there are specific contextual and familial factors that can contribute to smoking initiation, maintenance, and cessation among low-income African-American young adults. Limitations of this study include the exploratory nature of focus groups and the relatively small sample size. Further studies are necessary to quantitatively examine the role of these factors on smoking patterns in this population.


Pain Medicine ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. e1-e8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barbara J Turner ◽  
Natalia Rodriguez ◽  
Raudel Bobadilla ◽  
Arthur E Hernandez ◽  
Zenong Yin

Abstract Objective To examine factors influencing initial engagement, ongoing participation, learned behaviors, and subjective functional outcomes after a trial of the Living Better Beyond Pain (LBBP) chronic pain self-management program. Design Qualitative study using the Grounded Theory approach. Setting Two 60-minute focus groups and phone interviews in May 2017. Subjects Focus groups with 18 participants who completed LBBP and six-month measures; telephone interviews with 17 participants who stopped attending. Methods Study coordinators randomly selected program completers for focus groups and conducted phone interviews with noncompleters. Inductive thematic analysis was used to identify patterns in semantic content with a recursive process applied to focus group transcripts and interview transcriptions to codify into themes. Themes were categorized according to the Theory of Planned Behavior. Results Focus group and telephone interview participants were primarily Hispanic and unemployed. Attitudes fostering participation in LBBP included dissatisfaction with the status quo, need to reduce pain medication, and lack of training and knowledge about chronic pain. Positive social norms from meeting others with chronic pain and support from the LBBP team encouraged attendance and adoption of behaviors. Transportation, pain, and competing activities were barriers, whereas adapting activities for the disabled was a facilitator. Maintaining behaviors and activities at home was challenging but ultimately rewarding due to improvement in daily function with less pain medication. Conclusions This qualitative study complements quantitative results showing clinically significant improvements in function after the LBBP program by adding practical insights into ways to increase participation and outcomes. Participants strongly endorsed the need for chronic pain self-management training.


2005 ◽  
Vol 135 (5) ◽  
pp. 1093-1101 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sunitha Jasti ◽  
Anna Maria Siega-Riz ◽  
Mary E. Cogswell ◽  
Abraham G. Hartzema ◽  
Margaret E. Bentley

2019 ◽  
Vol 44 (4) ◽  
pp. 450-453 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katherine L. Ford ◽  
Derek J. Jorgenson ◽  
Eric J.L. Landry ◽  
Susan J. Whiting

Individuals who take medications may benefit from using vitamin and/or mineral supplements (VMS) yet excess supplementation can lead to overuse (daily intake exceeding the tolerable upper intake level (UL)). This study assessed VMS use of medically complex, community-living, older adults. A chart review of 229 patients ≥50 years with new medication assessments between 2014 and 2017 indicated that 76.9% of patients used ≥1 VMS daily. The UL for one or more nutrients was exceeded by 39.8% of supplement users.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mulugeta Dile Worke ◽  
Zewdie Birhanu Koricha ◽  
Gurmesa Tura Debelew

Abstract Background: Workplace sexual harassment is a public health problem that depends on gender, context, and perceivers ideology. Though studies documented the prevalence and consequences worldwide, the perception, experience, risk, and effects on victims are still at an earlier stage and not well understood in low and middle-income countries, particularly Ethiopia. The issue is worsened among women employees in the hospitality workplace that comprises hotels, bars, restaurants, fast-food establishments, and cafeterias. Hence, this study aimed to explore workplace sexual harassment perception and experience among women in these workplaces.Methods: An exploratory qualitative study was conducted from January 1 to August 30, 2019. Data were collected from women employees, managers, cashiers, and customers from several hospitality workplaces in the Bahir Dar City. The data were collected through focus group discussions, in-depth interviews, and key-informant interviews. Women who experienced sexual harassment were selected using the snowball method, and the key informants were recruited purposefully until the data theoretically saturated. Key informants who were supposed to give adequate information to study objectives were selected. The selection process was based on their responsibility concerning women working in hospitality workplaces. Data were analyzed via the thematic analysis approach using the ATLAS ti version 8.4.24 software package. Results: In this study, six focus group discussions, ten in-depth interviews, and thirteen key informant interviews were conducted. The majority of the participants perceived that sexual harassment is pressuring, threatening, touching, abducting for sexual advances; and experienced verbal, physical, and non-verbal forms. Similarly, the perceived risk factors were organization related, customer-related, victim-related; and the consequences were work-related, health-related, finance-related, and family undermining.Conclusions: Workplace sexual harassment in hospitality workplaces was poorly understood but widely experienced by women. It was also caused by multiple factors and affected both organizational and individual-level factors. Awareness creation campaigns, pre-service education, and in-service training, prevention, and rehabilitation are needed. Likewise, organizational policies and strategies should have to be developed and implemented.


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