The study examined the relationship between food swamps and self-reported food shopping frequency and perceived food access, while considering transportation mode and travel time. This Community-Based Participatory Research study surveyed residents from six neighborhoods in Hartford. Individual-level food swamp exposure (the ratio of unhealthy to healthy food stores within a 0.5-mile radius of participants’ homes) was measured both objectively (using GIS-based methods) and subjectively (through self-reporting). Poisson regression models assessed the associations between food swamps and outcomes (shopping frequency by store types and perceived access to food), with transportation mode and travel time as moderators. Of 304 participants, 51% lived in subjective (n = 153) and 71% in objective (n = 198) food swamps. Food swamp exposure was associated with greater shopping frequency at unhealthy outlets (β = 0.12, p < 0.001), less access to healthier food (β = −0.13, p < 0.001), and increased access to unhealthy food (β = 0.08, p < 0.001). Transportation significantly moderates these relationships; bus riders reported the highest rates of unhealthy food purchasing (β = 0.17, p < 0.001). Longer travel times increased both healthy and unhealthy food access (β = 0.01, p < 0.001 for each). Food swamps interact with public transportation to contribute to food shopping and access, underscoring the need for integrated food and transportation policies to address structural barriers and promote health equity in underserved urban communities.

To explore barriers and facilitators to campus food pantry utilization among international students attending a public university in the southeastern US and to report suggested solutions to address food and nutrition insecurity. A qualitative study was used as a part of a larger explanatory mixed-method design. International students who reported using the campus food pantry were eligible to participate in semistructured interviews, which were analyzed thematically. Thirty international graduate students participated. Barriers and facilitators to campus food pantry utilization largely centered on the quality and variety of culturally appropriate foods, pantry advertisement and operational strategies, individual accessibility barriers, and perceptions of stigma. Extending service hours, improving advertisements and the food supply, and addressing stigma were recommended. Attention to campus food pantry food supply improvements, accessibility concerns, and stigma reduction activities could help to improve food and nutrition security among international students.

Background: Food insecurity is defined as having limited access to food, while nutrition insecurity is characterized as a lack of consistent access to affordable and acceptable foods that support health, manage or prevent disease, and meet daily nutritional needs. College students face increased risks of food and nutrition insecurity, yet the issue is understudied. This study examined the patterns of food and nutrition insecurity among students at a public university across main and regional campuses. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey using Qualtrics for participant recruitment in November 2023. The USDA’s 10-item toolFood insecurity was measured using the USDA’s 10-item tooland housing security was measured using the U.S. Census Bureau’s National Survey of Income and Program Participation 6-item tool. We used ANOVAs and logistic regression to examine differences across demographics. Data analysis was done using SPSS version 29. Results: There were 6538 student responses. Of these, 36% of students were food insecure, while 20% were nutritionally insecure. Comparatively, food and nutrition insecurity were significantly higher among students with low-income (p < 0.001), housing instability (p < 0.001), a higher number of dependents, and those indicating that they were single/unmarried (p = 0.005), first-generation (p < 0.001), and Pell grant eligible (p < 0.001). Annual income and housing security emerged as significant predictors: lower income was approximately twice as likely to be associated with food insecurity, while those reporting housing insecurity were six times more likely to experience food insecurity. Conclusions: The study findings reveal disparities in food and nutrition insecurity among a diverse student population at a public university. Addressing the issue among them is crucial and requires a multifaceted, inclusive approach. Emergency financial assistance and structural interventions that promote housing security are warranted.

Background: Breastfeeding provides the necessary nutrition and immune support for infants’ growth, development, and defense mechanisms. The Theory of Planned Behavior is a commonly used framework to study factors influencing breastfeeding intentions. Objective: This study aimed to create an instrument for assessing key breastfeeding factors that influence breastfeeding intentions through a systematic tool development and validation approach. Methods: A set of items was developed based on the Theory of Planned Behavior constructs. A group of 6 experts in scale content was gathered to evaluate the items in 2 rounds until a consensus was reached. The scales were then tested and validated with a sample of 558 adult women of reproductive age without children in Louisiana. Structural equation modeling was used to determine the model fit. Results: An exploratory factor analysis revealed a fixed-factor model, which was later confirmed through confirmatory factor analysis. The factors identified were perceived behavioral control, breastfeeding attitudes, breastfeeding support, breastfeeding norms, and breastfeeding intentions. Conclusions: The model demonstrated an acceptable fit, with factors showing high internal reliability and content validity. The study highlighted the importance of addressing demographic differences to enhance breastfeeding practices among nulliparous women. The model could offer insights for developing targeted interventions to change breastfeeding behavior positively.

This study examined the convergent and predictive validity of objective and subjective food swamp measures within a Community-Based Participatory Research project conducted in six neighborhoods. Using resident survey data and geocoded audit data for 20 food store types, food swamps were measured using three indices: Food Swamp Index (FSI), modified Retail Food Environment Index (mRFEI), and Physical Food Environment Index (PFEI), calculated within a ½ mile buffer of respondents’ homes. Convergent validity was assessed using Spearman correlations. At the individual level, no significant correlations were found between objective and subjective measures (all rho < 0.06, p > .05). At the neighborhood level, results varied by measurement approach: as continuous variables, only mRFEI showed a significant but divergent correlation (rho = -0.81, p < .001); when dichotomized, mRFEI showed perfect convergent validity (rho = 1.00, p < .001), PFEI showed modest convergent validity (rho = 0.12, p = .039), while FSI showed divergent validity (rho = -0.28, p < .001). Subjective measures consistently predicted shopping frequency at unhealthy food stores (all p < .004), while objective measures showed null associations. These findings suggest subjective measures better capture the behaviorally relevant food environment and may be preferable for research examining dietary behaviors.