IJERPH, Vol. 21, Pages 594: Enduring Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Food Access, Nutrition, and Well-Being in Rural Appalachia

IJERPH, Vol. 21, Pages 594: Enduring Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Food Access, Nutrition, and Well-Being in Rural Appalachia International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health doi: 10.3390/ijerph21050594 Authors: Kathryn M. Cardarelli Emily DeWitt Rachel Gillespie Nathan Bandy Heather Norman-Burgdolf The COVID-19 pandemic produced acute effects on health inequities, yet more enduring impacts in vulnerable populations in rural Appalachia are understudied. This qualitative study included three focus groups with thirty-nine adults (74% female, mean age 52.7 years) to obtain perspectives on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on well-being in Martin County, Kentucky, in fall 2022. Grounded Theory was employed using an iterative inductive-deductive approach to capture the lasting effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on health practices and status. Three prominent themes emerged: (1) increased social isolation; (2) household cost of living strains caused by inflation; and (3) higher food prices and diminished food availability causing shifts in food purchasing and consumption. Participants noted that the rising cost of living resulted in residents having to “choose between medication, food and utilities”. Increased food prices resulted in residents “stretching” their food, modifying how they grocery shopped, and limiting meat consumption. Persistent food shortages were exacerbated by there bei...
Source: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health - Category: Environmental Health Authors: Tags: Article Source Type: research