The effect of education plus access on perceived fruit and vegetable consumption in a rural African American community intervention.
African Americans have an increased risk of cardiovascular disease partly due to low fruit and vegetable consumption. This article reports the results of an intervention to provide nutrition education and access to fruits and vegetables through community gardens to change dietary behaviors among African Americans in rural Missouri. Cross-sectional surveys evaluated the intervention effect on blood pressure, body mass index (BMI), and perceived fruit and vegetable consumption in this quasi-experimental study with a comparison group. Hypertension (OR = 0.52, 95% CI: 0.38-0.71) and BMI (OR = 0.73, 95% CI: 0.52-1.02) were lower in the intervention county at mid-intervention. Participation in nutrition education (OR = 2.67, 95% CI: 1.63-4.40) and access to fruits and vegetables from a community garden (OR = 1.95, 95% CI: 1.20-3.15) were independently associated with perceived fruit and vegetable consumption. The strongest effect on perceived fruit and vegetable consumption occurred with high participation in nutrition education and access to community gardens (OR = 2.18, 95% CI: 1.24-3.81). Those with access but without education had a reduced likelihood of consuming recommended servings of fruits and vegetables (OR = 0.57, 95% CI: 0.34-0.95). Education plus access interventions may be best at increasing consumption of fruits and vegetables in a rural African American population.
Department of Behavioral Science and Health Education.
E K
EK
Barnidge
Department of Behavioral Science and Health Education, bakerpa@slu.edu.
E A
EA
Baker
Department of Epidemilogy and.
M
M
Schootman
Department of Behavioral Science and Health Education.
F
F
Motton
Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Saint Louis University College for Public Health & Social Justice, 3545 Lafayette Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63104, USA.
M
M
Sawicki
Department of Behavioral Science and Health Education.
F
F
Rose
D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003710:Demography; D004032:Diet / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005638:Fruit; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008923:Missouri / Q000453:epidemiology; D012424:Rural Population; D014675:Vegetables