title: Geographic Disparity in Funding for School Nutrition Environments: Evidence from Mississippi Schools.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Despite the federal initiatives on equitable provision of school nutrition programs, geographic disparity in childhood obesity persists. It may be partly because built-in school nutrition environments rely on each school's efficient use of existing operational funds or its ability to obtain expanded financial support. This study explores how funding acquisition by schools is determined by local community characteristics and how it relates to healthy school meal offerings.
  
  
  METHODS
  Information about food preparation technology and funding in 811 schools in Mississippi was obtained by in-depth phone interviews of district child nutrition directors and school foodservice managers, which was matched to socioeconomic indicators of schools and communities. Probit models were estimated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  About 56% of schools in the sample received some funds toward combination oven/steamers in the last few years. Small schools, schools in non-metro counties, and those in low-income minority areas were significantly less likely to be funded. Obtainment of funds was associated with a 45 percentage-point reduction in the probability of serving fried foods.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Funds obtained by schools for advanced food preparation technology contributes to creation of healthier nutrition environments for children. However, fund availability is associated with community characteristics, possibly contributing to geographic disparity of child health.
authors.affiliation: Nutrition & Hospitality Management, University of Mississippi, P. O. Box 1848, University, MS 38677. chang@olemiss.edu.
authors.forename: Yunhee
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.affiliation: Nutrition & Hospitality Management, University of Mississippi, P. O. Box 1848, University, MS 38677. carither@olemiss.edu.
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Carithers
authors.affiliation: Nutrition & Hospitality Management, University of Mississippi, P. O. Box 1848, University, MS 38677. srleeke@go.olemiss.edu.
authors.forename: Shannon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Leeke
authors.affiliation: Nutrition & Hospitality Management, University of Mississippi, P. O. Box 1848, University, MS 38677. fnchin@go.olemiss.edu.
authors.forename: Felicia
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Chin
mesh_terms: D002202:Capital Financing / Q000191:economics* / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005522:Food Services / Q000191:economics* / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005843:Geography; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D054625:Healthcare Disparities; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008922:Mississippi; D018673:Nutrition Policy / Q000191:economics*; D009765:Obesity / Q000517:prevention & control; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012574:Schools / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
keywords: child and adolescent health; nutrition and diet; school food services; school funding