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Food Desert Status of Family Child Care Homes: Relationship to Young Children’s Food Quality

Authors :
Lucine Francis
Nancy Perrin
Frank C. Curriero
Maureen M. Black
Jerilyn K. Allen
Source :
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health; Volume 19; Issue 11; Pages: 6393
Publication Year :
2022
Publisher :
Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute, 2022.

Abstract

Family child care homes (FCCHs) are a favored child care choice for parents of young children in the U.S. Most FCCH providers purchase and prepare foods for the children in their care. Although FCCH providers can receive monetary support from the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), a federal subsidy program, to purchase nutritious foods, little is known about FCCH providers’ access to nutritious foods, especially among FCCH providers serving children from communities that have been historically disinvested and predominantly Black. This study aims to describe the food desert status of FCCHs in Baltimore City, Maryland, and examine the relationship between food desert status and the quality of foods and beverages purchased and provided to children. A proportionate stratified random sample of 91 FCCH providers by CACFP participation status consented. Geographic information system mapping (GIS) was used to determine the food desert status of each participating FCCH. Participants reported on their access to food and beverages through telephone-based surveys. Nearly three-quarters (66/91) of FCCHs were located in a food desert. FCCH providers working and living in a food desert had lower mean sum scores M (SD) for the quality of beverages provided than FCCH providers outside a food desert (2.53 ± 0.81 vs. 2.92 ± 0.70, p = 0.036, respectively). Although the significant difference in scores for beverages provided is small, FCCH providers working in food deserts may need support in providing healthy beverages to the children in their care. More research is needed to understand food purchases among FCCH providers working in neighborhoods situated in food deserts.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
16604601
Database :
OpenAIRE
Journal :
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health; Volume 19; Issue 11; Pages: 6393
Accession number :
edsair.doi.dedup.....8a7a9086bd15a3631d91fe9acfa1b430
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19116393