The American Public Health Association (APHA) will be hosting their Annual Meeting and Expo virtually and in person October 24th - 27th. This event is the largest gathering of public health professionals and will include innovative and informative discussions, as well as provide networking opportunities, poster sessions, and more! The Annual Meeting will highlight research under this years theme "Creating the Healthiest Nation: Strengthening Social Connectedness." Below are four opportunities to learn about work from researchers at the Swetland Center:
Identifying predictors of nutrition incentive sales among single versus repeat customers shopping at farmers’ markets
Presenter: Eun Kyung Lee, PhD MPH, Postdoctoral Scholar
Co-authors: Gwendolyn Donley, MS; Lauren Vargo, MUPD; Roberto Martinez, MPH; Olivia Korth, Darcy A. Freedman, PhD, MPH
Presentation Type: Poster
Session: Produce for the People: Leveraging Innovative Programs to Increase Produce Consumption and Promote Health
Description: This study applied a machine learning approach to identify predictors of nutrition incentive sales and strategies for increasing access to healthy foods through enhancing nutrition incentive programs. Preliminary findings suggest that efforts to increase farmers' markets operational days/hours and number of vendors as well as targeting zip codes of predominantly Black/African-Americans can aid in increasing nutrition incentive sales.
Nutrition Incentive Programs in Grocery Retail: Core elements for Implementation based on a Statewide Approach in Ohio
Presenter: Abigail Roche, MS, RDN, Predoctoral Scholar
Co-Authors: Alisha Giri, MA; Lauren Vargo, MUPD; Darcy A. Freedman, PhD, MPH
Presentation Type: Poster
Session: Produce for the People: Leveraging Innovative Programs to Increase Produce Consumption and Promote Health
Description: SNAP is the largest federal effort to reduce food insecurity. At the state level, nutrition incentive programs (as a part of SNAP) are emerging as windows of opportunity for leveraging SNAP to improve diet quality. The aim of this study was to identify core elements of a state-wide fresh fruit and vegetable incentive program operating in diverse grocery retail settings. Using an implementation science theoretical framework, we found that successful statewide implementation in diverse grocery settings was facilitated by the relative advantage of the incentive for both SNAP consumers and retailers, word-of-mouth marketing, technology integration, and cashier buy-in. Barriers that limited program impact includes ineffective marketing strategies and laborious multi-step cashier processes.
Nutrition incentive use among SNAP consumers with access to programming at both farmers markets and grocery stores: A cross-sectional study
Presenter: Lauren Vargo, MUPD, Program Manager
Co-Authors: Timothy Ciesielski, ScD, MD, MPH; Milen Embaye, MPH; Darcy Freedman, PhD, MPH
Presentation Type: Poster
Session: Produce for the People: Leveraging Innovative Programs to Increase Produce Consumption and Promote Health
Description: Accessing healthy foods is a challenge for many low-income households and communities of color, which spurred federal funding for nutrition incentive programs that are designed to incentivize the purchasing of healthy foods among eligible participants. Using a cross-sectional design, this study sought to understand the characteristics and preferences of SNAP recipients in two, Northeast Ohio cities, who had comparable access to a grocery store and farmers’ market that offered a nutrition incentive program. Study findings suggest that offering incentive programming at diverse food retail sites and characterizing program users are effective and equitable ways to expand healthy food incentive programs.
Reducing child asthma exacerbations with collective action and community partnerships
Presenter: India Gill, MPH, Pre-doctoral Scholar
Presentation Type: Poster
Session: Community Health Planning and Policy Development
Description: Structural and social determinants of asthma disparities manifest within geographic communities that are often segregated. Child asthma disproportionately affects underrepresented minority populations. Interventions implemented at the community level have the potential to improve health outcomes of children with asthma and reduce racial disparities. Findings from a systematic review show significant associations between community interventions and the reduction of asthma-related hospital visits, suggesting a protective effect for the most uncontrolled, severe cases of child asthma in underrepresented minority populations.