Use of Formative Research to Develop a Healthy Eating Social Marketing Campaign for Low Resource Families in Mississippi

Mississippi leads the nation in chronic disease, obesity, poverty, and food insecurity. Preventing further growth in disease rates, requires a cultural shift towards a ‘healthy eating’ environment. Healthy patterns of food consumption along with physical activity can prevent and reduce these rates. A state-wide ‘healthy eating’ social marketing campaign could motivate voluntary population behavioral change. Three different methodologies were used to develop a strategy for Mississippi: a systematic review of the literature, a state-wide phone survey (quantitative), and focus groups (qualitative). A systematic review of articles published since January 2007 was conducted, using PRISMA guidelines. Five databases were searched with key terms. Past healthy eating campaigns in the US focused on children and parents as the target audiences and consumption of fruits and vegetables as the behavioral outcome. A web-based campaign from Oregon, was one of the successful models; in 2015, their website had over 125,000 monthly users. This campaign appeals to mothers as its primary audience and produces recipes that are tested and ‘kid-approved’; almost all the recipes include fruits and/or vegetables. The phone survey data was analyzed for participants who were responsible for children under the age of 18 in their homes. Values, attitudes, beliefs and barriers were analyzed using univariate frequencies. Chi Square tests were conducted to investigate the differences between demographic groups. The survey found that Mississippi SNAP-eligible and recipients have positive beliefs and attitudes towards ‘healthy eating.’ A majority (60%) agreed that cost was a barrier to ‘healthy eating’ while 35% thought that access to quality fruits and vegetables was lacking. Focus groups (n=17), from 12 counties were conducted with mothers, grandmothers, aunts who were caretakers of young children. Findings indicated participants had a broad range of perceptions and practices for ‘healthy eating.’ They were motivated to eat healthy for their personal health and for their children. Mothers and guardians are motivated to satisfy their children’s hunger, often a barrier to healthy eating. The findings indicate that time, convenience, and cost are also barriers. A consumer-oriented, culturally appropriate social marketing campaign in Mississippi should resonate with mothers and their need to satisfy their children

Formative Research to Inform the Development of a Healthy Eating Social Marketing Campaign in Mississippi

Mississippi leads the nation in child obesity, chronic diseases, poverty, and food insecurity. Stemming the long-term consequences of high obesity rates will require a cultural attitude and behavioral shift towards healthy eating. This study explored the perceptions, beliefs, practices, and self-efficacy towards healthy eating among limited resource Mississippi parents to inform a SNAP-Ed social marketing campaign. A statewide telephone survey was conducted with income-eligible or current SNAP recipients who provided or prepared food for children in their household. Likert-type scale questions measured intrapersonal factors, self-efficacy, and practices regarding healthy eating, such as shopping and meal planning. A total of 206 surveys were analyzed. Seventy-nine percent (n=163) of participants were currently receiving SNAP benefits. Healthy eating was perceived as balanced meals and fruits and vegetables. Though 60% agreed that cost was a barrier to eating more fruits and vegetables, 90% of participants had positive attitudes and beliefs towards healthy eating. In summary, Mississippi parents with limited resources were interested in providing healthy balanced meals but faced cost as the major barrier. A social marketing message with this population can be effective in emphasizing affordable healthy meals

eB4CAST Approach Improves Science Communication With Stakeholders in a College-Based Health Program

Communicating scientific results with community partners is often lacking in intervention programs, thus eB4CAST was developed to facilitate impact sharing. This article investigated using the eB4CAST dissemination tool to communicate impact from a campus-based obesity prevention program. Data from Get Fruved RCT university sites collected at baseline were used to generate eB4CAST reports. Experts (n = 13) and RCT sites (n = 15) were asked to provide feedback on eB4CAST reports based on appeal, understanding, and clarity. On all Likert items, participants rated above 7 on each (out of 10). Positive responses from open-ended questions included eB4CAST reports being clear, visually appealing, and aid in program understanding. Overall, eB4CAST was successful in relaying data and information for the Get Fruved program, thus a means for science communication that could be used in interventions. Utilizing infographics to report data and information is a feasible way to disseminate and communicate in a cost-effective, timely manner

Too Many Treats or Not Enough to Eat? The Impact of Caregiving Grandparents on Child Food Security and Nutrition

With the number of grandparent-headed households on the rise, the influence of grandparents needs to be considered in the fight to reduce child obesity. The current study investigated the influence of caregiver type (i.e., grandparents only, parents only, or multi-generational households) on children’s nutrition, food security, and BMI. This was a cross-sectional, secondary analysis based on the 2009–2010 wave of the Health Behavior in School-Aged Children (HBSC) survey in collaboration with the World Health Organization. This sample included 12,181 students from 10,837 families with only parents present in the household, 238 with only grandparents present, and 1106 multi-generational families. One-way analyses of covariance (ANCOVAs) were conducted using caregiver type as the independent variable, controlling for SES, on items assessing frequency of breakfast consumption, nutrition intake, hunger, snacking frequency and location, and BMI. Children reported more unhealthy snacking in households with only grandparents. Hunger was reported more often in multi-generational households. These results support that caregiver type, especially caregiving grandparents, is a significant predictor of children’s BMI, nutrition, and food security. Tailoring nutrition education to the needs of grandparents could help both the health of grandparents and the reduction of child obesity

Evolution of Environmental Flows Assessment Science, Principles and Methodologies

Environmental flows assessment science focuses largely on defining how modified flow regimes (from water infrastructure and direct water abstraction) can be managed to conserve or restore societally desired ecological conditions in rivers and other wetland systems. The foundations of the science are based on hydroecological understanding and knowledge derived from empirical observation, indigenous (stakeholder) knowledge, and modeling. Flow–ecology relationships are the accepted basis of modern environmental water recommendations, and holistic (ecosystem) approaches have evolved as the main sphere of innovation over the last 40 years. Environmental water applications are increasing in sophistication from the desktop planning level through to advanced river basin and broader landscape water management. New regions are engaging with the environmental water enterprise and advancing the science, increasing rigor, implementation, and policy uptake. This challenging scientific and policy platform faces new challenges to integrate other partially or nonflow-related environmental factors that can limit the ecological outcomes of purely hydrologic restoration. Chief among these are sediment regime alteration, thermal regime alteration, and channel hydraulic features in re-regulated reaches. In addition, rapid human population growth, shifting ecological conditions (“baselines”), and climate change create new challenges for environmental water. The discipline must therefore transition from a historically focused, restore-to-reference perspective to one that aims for adaptation in the face of hydrologic and ecological change and increasing uncertainty. Less reliance on statistical flow–ecology relationships and more emphasis on process understanding of hydrologic controls on ecological dynamics will become increasingly important. Further, the local-scale focus of environmental water science will need to expand to a larger, basin-scale perspective that considers habitat connectivity and species movements that are critical components in attaining freshwater conservation. In summary, we provide seven guiding elements that will likely promote the successful advancement of environmental water science and implementation in the coming years.No Full Tex