African American Perceptions of Service Provided by Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program-Education: A Qualitative Exploration

Matthew Greene; Denise Holston; Jamila Freightman; Chiquita Briley

doi:10.1016/j.jneb.2022.10.004

African American Perceptions of Service Provided by Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program-Education: A Qualitative Exploration

J Nutr Educ Behav. 2023 Feb;55(2):125-134. doi: 10.1016/j.jneb.2022.10.004.

Authors

Matthew Greene¹, Denise Holston², Jamila Freightman², Chiquita Briley²

Affiliations

¹ School of Nutrition and Food Sciences, Louisiana State University Agriculture Center, Baton Rouge, LA. Electronic address: mgreene@agcenter.lsu.edu.
² School of Nutrition and Food Sciences, Louisiana State University Agriculture Center, Baton Rouge, LA.

PMID: 36764794
DOI: 10.1016/j.jneb.2022.10.004

Abstract

Objective: To assess African Americans' satisfaction with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program-Education (SNAP-Ed) in Louisiana.

Methods: African American facilitators conducted 5 focus group discussions with 25 African American SNAP-Ed participants according to issues identified by African American SNAP-Ed implementers in Louisiana. Focus group discussion transcripts were coded independently using inductive and in vivo coding by 2 members of the research team.

Results: Participants viewed lessons as race-neutral and thought they should include more information about African American history and culture. Participants also noted a lack of engagement with the African American community and stressed the need for the program to employ African American staff. However, participants thought the information was important for African Americans in the context of medical issues faced by their community.

Conclusions and implications: Findings indicate that SNAP-Ed in Louisiana be modified to address African American food history and culture, additional African American staff and better engagement with the African American community.

Keywords: African American; SNAP-Ed; nutrition education; racial health disparities; structural racism.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

Black or African American*
Food
Food Assistance*
Humans
Poverty