USDA CSREES\u27 Role in Broadening Support for an Aging Nation

The aging of America is of major public concern and has far-reaching implications for the nation and for rural communities. In particular, older Americans in rural areas face a wide array of challenges that negatively affect their health and quality of life. Working with its land-grant university and the Cooperative Extension System partners, USDA CSREES is strategically directed and uniquely positioned to address many of these challenges through effective research, education, and Extension activities

Relationship Between Single Motherhood Status and Stunting Among Children Under 5 in Kgatleng, Botswana

Undernutrition affects sub-Saharan African countries with increased stunting among children under 5 years old. The short- and long-term effects of this stunting include the potential for slow growth in early life, impaired health, and educational and economic disadvantages in adolescent and adult years. In this quantitative cross-sectional study, we analyzed the relationship between single-mother families and the occurrence of stunting among children under 5 years old in the Kgatleng District of Botswana. We collected primary data from 196 mothers and their children who visited selected clinics in Kgatleng. The results of the binary logistic regression analysis were significant: χ2 (1, N = 196) = 4.119, p = .046, indicating the model was able to distinguish between those respondents who reported stunting and those who did not report stunting. The implications for positive social change include the potential to increase awareness among health professionals to continually check the linear growth of children under 5 to help curb the deleterious effects and the social inequalities caused by stunting

Risk for Type 2 Diabetes Among SNAP Participants With Prediabetes

This study explored food security status among Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participants with prediabetes in relation to food choice decisions over a 30-day benefit cycle that potentially increases the risk of Type 2 diabetes. A cross-sectional, quantitative design based on food choice process model constructs was used. SNAP participants (n = 36) with prediabetes, aged 21–70 years, were recruited as outpatients from Bronx Lebanon Hospital Center and completed self-reported questionnaires on demographics and health, food security, and food frequency over time. Descriptive statistics, Pearson chi square tests, and regression analysis were performed using SPSS. Two post-hoc tests, the Friedman’s test, and Wilcoxon signed-rank test were used to measure the difference in means between food groups. Using a multiple response analysis, the 11 food categories had the greatest variation for Week 1, compared to Weeks 2–4. Use of coping strategies to minimize hunger was limited. Very low food security associated with certain coping strategies disrupted eating patterns that affected food variation over time and increased the intake of non-nutrient-dense foods. Changing SNAP’s benefit allotments, and making mandatory, a nutrition package and nutrition education, may increase food security and nutrient-dense food variation thereby decreasing the risk for Type 2 diabetes

Building Public Issues Education Capacity to Address Health and Wellness: Recommendations from a Survey of Extension Professionals

A national Web-based survey administered through the University of Maryland assessed Cooperative Extension\u27s involvement in public policy education specific to health and wellness. Respondents included Family Consumer Sciences administrators, faculty, and staff. The majority of respondents agreed that public policy education was within the scope of their responsibilities, critical to their programs, and helpful in raising citizens\u27 interest and commitment to healthier communities. However, public policy education efforts would benefit from a more integrated approach across the national Extension system in terms of policy focus and Extension professionals\u27 roles and level of involvement