Master of Science, The Ohio State University, 2014, Human Ecology: Human Nutrition

PURPOSE: The purpose of this project is to determine if there is an association between dental caries in children ages 2-4 and household food security status by examining the prevalence of child dental caries and household food security status among 94 children. METHODS: This IRB-approved pilot study was conducted from April-May, 2014, at Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. Participants were the parents of young children (ages 2-4) who were current Dental Clinic patients or Dental Surgery Center patients (n=94). Children were examined for dental caries and parents were administered a food security questionnaire. RESULTS: Dental Clinic patients included those with dental caries (n=19) and those without dental caries (n=28). All Dental Surgery Center patients had dental caries (n=47). Dental caries were present in 69% of children. Of 94 households in the sample, 69% (n=65) were found food secure and 31% (n=29) food insecure. No significant association was found between household food security and dental caries (p=0.6110). The odds of having dental caries was higher for food secure households than food insecure households (OR=1.27). The significant predictors of having dental caries, found from the univariable logistic regressions, were distance to a grocery store (p=0.0486), age of child (p=0.0192), whether the child drinks water (p=0.0155), whether the child drinks other drinks besides water (p=0.0252), whether the child drinks juice (p=0.0378), daily drink consumption besides water (p=0.0005), does the child snack on starchy foods (p=0.0161), does the child snack on vegetables (p=0.0148), does the child snack on sugary foods (p=0.0030), and daily water consumption (p<0.0001). In the multivariable model, age was included to adjust for exposure time to dental caries and daily water consumption was included due to being a highly significant factor that affects dental caries in young children. After adding age to the model, the effect of daily wa (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Paul Casamassimo DDS, MS (Advisor); Amanda Bird PhD (Advisor); Irene Hatsu PhD (Committee Member); Tanya Mathew BDS, MS (Committee Member) Subjects: Dental Care; Dentistry; Nutrition

Master of Arts (MA), Ohio University, 2021, Geography (Arts and Sciences)

The policy and governance dimensions of food security is of growing interest among geographers, yet there is a need for more empirical research in this area that moves beyond polemical arguments. The objective of this study is to understand the local food security governance framework in northern Ghana and examine the agency of and interaction among major actors (state-NGO). This study employs qualitative analysis in the form of semi-structured interviews. Using modified grounded theory, interview transcripts were analyzed to explain how these governance relationships have affected the (evolution of) food security priorities in northern Ghana over time. The results revealed that while the government institutions know and decide the broad direction of food security priorities of northern Ghana, NGOs provide the funds and the technical capacity to address the food security needs and implement interventions in complex local contexts. Ultimately, this study suggests that food security governance in northern Ghana has benefited greatly from the cordial relationships between NGOs and government institutions with clear definition of governance rules, obligations, and responsibilities.

Committee: Thomas Smucker (Committee Chair); Edna Wangui (Committee Member); Harold Perkins (Committee Member) Subjects: Geography

Master of Science (MS), Ohio University, 2013, Food and Nutrition Sciences (Health Sciences and Professions)

This study examined household food security (HFS) and physical activity (PA among individuals living with HIV/AIDS living in rural Appalachia (West Virginia, Appalachian Ohio, Kentucky, and Pennsylvania). Participants (n = 82) completed an online or paper survey that included validated measures of HFS (USDA short form) and physical activity. Data were analyzed using PASW statistical software (version 18.0,) to determine the relationship between the variables (Mann-Whitney U). The majority of participants (n = 82) were: male (n = 63) and Caucasian (n = 59). For all patients, 28 (34.1%), 10 (12.2%), 12 (14.56%), and 32 (39.0%) were living in households characterized as being high, marginal, low, and very low HFS, respectively. There was no significant difference in distribution of IPAQ scores (Mann-Whitney U, p = .161), and total MET-min per week of physical activity between the HIV and AIDS groups (t-test, p = 0.200). There was no significant difference between distribution of IPAQ scores (Mann-Whitney U, p = 0.929), and total MET-min per week (t-test, p = 0.944) between food security groups. Further exploration is warranted in other rural regions.

Committee: David Holben PhD, RD, LD (Advisor); Tania Basta Ph.D., MPH, CHES (Committee Member); Deborah Murray MS, RD, LD (Committee Member) Subjects: Health; Health Education; Nutrition

Bachelor of Arts (BA), Ohio University, 2025, Environmental Studies

The purpose of this research is to analyze the language of food-based organizations in the Appalachian region to determine the extent to which food sovereignty principles inform their practices and if it is present. My research question is: What elements of food sovereignty are present in the visions of food system change among stakeholders in Appalachian contexts? This framing does not assume from the outset that there is a discernible Food Sovereignty movement in the region. Rather, it examines a set of semi-structured interviews of three food-based organizations in Appalachia to understand the connections between different visions of food system change in the region. It also explores the extent to which these frameworks embody an Appalachia specific vision of sovereignty.

Committee: Thomas Smucker (Advisor); Stephen Scanlan (Advisor) Subjects: Environmental Studies; Geography

Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University, 2024, Public Policy and Management

In 2023, 13.5 percent of U.S. households experienced food insecurity. There are notable disparities in who faces food insecurity across socio-demographic groups and region. The recognition of intersecting barriers that exacerbate food insecurity in rural areas has prompted significant federal investments to bolster local food systems and the creation of new initiatives to strengthen rural infrastructure, connect communities with federal resources, and support rural health and well-being. The concept of community food security (CFS) recognizes a broader set of political, social, environmental, and economic factors than traditional conceptualizations of food security and may be a promising framework for informing rural health policy. A core element of the CFS framework is community self-reliance. At present, community self-reliance is considered synonymous with physical food infrastructure; however, extant scholarship demonstrates that the presence of physical food infrastructure is not sufficient, and social factors, including social relationships and networks, are promising mechanisms for supporting food security in rural areas. This dissertation employs a pragmatic research paradigm and the principles of community-engaged research to interrogate CFS in rural communities. I achieve this via three empirical studies, each with a distinct unit of analysis: individual (Chapter 2), group (Chapter 3), and organizational (Chapter 4). Leveraging in-depth, semi-structured interviews, Chapter 2 explores how residents of a rural, high food insecurity region characterize their experiences with food insecurity, resulting in a set of themes that both converge with, and diverge from, the constructs underpinning current food security measurement. For Chapter 3, I conducted focus groups to explore how residents in southeast Ohio conceptualize CFS and how the social and physical components of the local food system, including group-identified community assets, work in concert to (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Jennifer Garner (Committee Chair); Russell Hassan (Committee Member); Alisha Coleman-Jensen (Committee Member); Jill Clark (Committee Co-Chair) Subjects: Public Administration

PhD, University of Cincinnati, 2024, Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services: Educational Studies

Food insecurity is a significant problem and poses a risk for various health issues. The burden of food insecurity is even higher in minoritized populations. Nutrition education and food literacy programs have the potential to address these concerns by increasing the capacity to select and consume healthy foods, even in the presence of perceived challenges. Furthermore, community gardens can improve access to fresh foods in neighborhoods with limited food options and provide a hands-on learning environment for nutrition and food education programs. Community gardens enhance public spaces and provide access to fresh produce in different neighborhoods, offering numerous physical and mental health benefits. Community-engaged research (CEnR), which involves both community members and researchers in the research process, can play a crucial role in overcoming social and ecological barriers to health programs. It also helps in enhancing the cultural relevance and overall success of such programs. In this dissertation, I use a three-paper model to examine existing literature on community-engaged research in community garden programs and to identify the barriers and facilitators of this approach in community health programs, particularly within community gardening programs. In this dissertation, the first paper delves into the existing literature on community-engaged research in community garden programs, while the second and third identify the barriers and facilitators of this approach in community health programs, particularly within the context of community gardening programs. Each paper establishes a theoretical foundation for the implementation of CEnR in the field of nutrition, food literacy, and food security, aiming to bridge the gap between community and practice. This research underscores the potential applicability of community-engaged research to programs targeting nutrition and food security, emphasizing its role in enhancing their impact. While Chapter 3 de (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Lisa Vaughn Ph.D. (Committee Chair); Farrah Jacquez Ph.D. (Committee Member); Sarah Couch Ph.D. (Committee Member) Subjects: Health Education

Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Organizational Leadership , Franklin University, 2024, International Institute for Innovative Instruction

This study applied a qualitative methodology and generated descriptive data while exploring the food insecurity (FI) of student service members and veterans (SSM/V). Thematic data analysis was used to rigorously interpret the participant's reporting's (Braun, & Clarke, 2006; Terry, et al., 2017). The conceptual framework that informed the study was the multi-theoretical model of student persistence (Falcone, 2011). The following research question (RQ) guided the researcher: How do food-insecure military student service members and veterans describe their post-secondary food-insecure lived experiences? The study's in-depth semi-structured interviews applied five open ended questions The guiding research question and four research sub-questions. In sum 15 SSM/V participants were recruited online and interviewed from five different states, along the east coast, and the central U.S. (Maramwidze-Merrison, 2016). Participants were from various postsecondary institutions. Three support services professionals were interviewed each having completed a doctoral degree, from two different states, and familiar with FI. The researcher developed codes were read and reread during coding and analyzed on an Excel Spreadsheet, for recurring and critical themes that developed throughout the interviews (Creswell, 2014; Pajo, 2017). Categorization, and consolidation of the intersecting codes and themes found four informative themes critical to the topic of the FI SSM/V. This exploratory study provided rich descriptive data on the following four FI SSM/V themes: 1) intersecting stressors, 2) consider seeking help, 3) accessing Food, 4) coping strategies. The researcher also integrated content gleaned from experiential observations, and reflections, to add context to the experiences of the FI SSM/V (Maramwidze-Merrison, 2016). Key terms: DFAC, food security (FS), food insecurity (FI), military discharge, military student service member and veterans (SSM/V), postsecondary.

Committee: Niccole Hyatt (Committee Chair); Jeffrey Ferezan (Committee Member); Crissie Jameson (Committee Member) Subjects: Adult Education; American Studies; Armed Forces; Community College Education; Community Colleges; Education; Educational Leadership; Food Science; Health Education; Higher Education; Home Economics Education; Military Studies; Nutrition; Web Studies

Master of Science, The Ohio State University, 2023, Human Ecology: Human Nutrition

O: This mixed methods study aimed to 1) Explore how youth facing homelessness experience their food environment from a social and person-centered lens; 2) Measure the perceptions of youth facing homelessness about their food environment; and 3) Detail how youth's social networks, personal beliefs, and physical environment influence their food choice. M: This study used a convergent parallel mixed methods design with qualitative prioritization. Quantitative surveys and semi-structured personal interviews were completed with youth aged 18-23 years experiencing homelessness (n=14) who accessed services from a drop-in center in a large Midwestern city from August to November 2022. Inductive and abductive approaches and thematic analysis were used to identify salient themes derived from the qualitative data. Quantitative analyses focused on areas of convergence and divergence with findings from the qualitative analysis. Univariate descriptive statistics were performed to analyze quantitative survey data about individual-level food security and perceptions of the food environment, including availability and accessibility of food in youth's physical environment at retailers identified during participant interviews. R: Four themes were identified from the data: eating to survive, challenges with food choice experienced by youth facing homelessness, youth's perception of the consumer environment, and facilitators of food choice in this population. It was found that the drop-in center is a vital resource for these youth, but issues with expired food and shared food preparation and storage facilities limit youth's food access. Conversely, youth's social networks, cooking skills, and confidence in their cooking ability improve youth's access to food. C: This study provides important insight regarding the perceived social and environmental factors constraining individual food choice in young people experiencing homelessness. Future research is warranted to strengthen co (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Irene Hatsu PhD, RD (Advisor); Jennifer Garner PhD, RD (Committee Member); Julie Kennel PhD, RD (Committee Member) Subjects: Nutrition

Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University, 2022, Food Science and Technology

Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites produced by fungi including Aspergillus and Fusarium that commonly contaminate crops, such as maize, resulting in economic losses and food insecurity. Consumption of mycotoxin-contaminated foods has been linked to negative health outcomes including stunting and neural tube defects (NTDs). In countries such as Guatemala where maize constitutes a major portion of the diet, mycotoxins can be a significant contributor to disease burden. While mycotoxin mitigation strategies have been studied extensively in other parts of the world, there is little published data on maize handling practices in Latin America. Since mycotoxins are often introduced through mishandling during growing, storage or processing, understanding maize handling practices is key to identifying target areas for interventions. Practices and regulations to control mycotoxins in the food supply are not easily implemented because most food is self-produced. The overarching goals of this dissertation were to 1) estimate mycotoxin exposure in Guatemala; and 2) inform future research around control of mycotoxin contamination in the food supply chain. In Chapter 1, maize growing, storage, and handling practices among smallholder farmers in Guatemala are described. In Chapter 2, a cross-sectional study of women of reproductive age in Guatemala found that lower socio-economic status and reported dietary consumption are risk factors for urinary fumonisin B1 (uFB1) levels that are above the provisional maximum tolerable daily intake (PMTDI) level for fumonisins. In Chapter 3, a case-control study evaluating risk factors for NTDs found that reproductive health history and maternal dietary intake are risk factors for NTDs. Additionally, a propensity score matching analysis was used to estimate uFB1 levels of women in this study showed that women in this study were estimated to have high uFB1 levels regardless of NTD status. In Chapter 4, a cross-sectional study of women tortilla (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Barbara Kowalcyk (Advisor); Dennis Heldman (Committee Member); Olga Torres (Committee Member); Sanja Ilic (Committee Member); Armando Hoet (Committee Member) Subjects: Food Science

Master of Science, The Ohio State University, 2022, Health and Rehabilitation Sciences

Background: Food insecurity is a persistent public health issue that affects 10.5% of households in the U.S. The United States Department of Agriculture monitors food insecurity using the Household Food Security Survey Module (HFSSM). There is growing concern that it may not capture the true extent of food insecurity nor reflect the lived realities of households across the food security spectrum, particularly in rural areas. Study Objective: To explore whether the HFSSM reflects the lived realities and conceptualizations of food security among adults with varying food security experiences. Methodology and Data: A study recruitment postcard was mailed to all residential addresses in the Athens County region of Appalachian Ohio in late June 2020. Adult recipients were invited to complete an initial survey with quarterly follow-up for one year. Surveys included a demographic questionnaire and the HFSSM. Based on HFSSM-based trajectories of household food security over study time points, a purposively selected sub-sample of respondents were invited for in-depth semi-structured interviews (n=16) conducted in May-June 2021. Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Using NVivo (Version 12), template analysis was employed to identify themes through a process employing both a priori codes (based on HFSSM constructs) and emergent codes. The codebook went through six iterations based on a series of consensus-building discussions among three co-authors until saturation was reached and no new codes emerged. Two researchers coded a subset of interviews to check codebook clarity and ensure interrater reliability. Results: Interviewed adults represented households experiencing consistent food security (n=7), transient insecurity (n=5), and persistent insecurity (n=4) across time points. Households with a history of food insecurity characterize their experiences in ways that largely converge with the HFSSM measure, including skipping meals, reducing meal size, (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Jennifer Garner (Advisor); Claire Bollinger (Committee Member); Michelle Kaiser (Committee Member); Colleen Spees (Committee Member) Subjects: Health Sciences; Nutrition; Public Health

Master of Science in Environmental Science, Youngstown State University, 2021, Department of Physics, Astronomy, Geology and Environmental Sciences

With the growth of urbanization, the access to fresh, unprocessed foods is decreasing leading to regions of food deserts. Most city planning has not been designed to include access to fresh food supply for the residents. There are many different factors contributing to the phenomenon such as low-income, lack of access to proper and feasible public transport, lack of vehicle ownership, and absence of food retailers in specific urban regions. Utilizing Geographical Information Systems (GIS), stores and public transportation were mapped, and the availability of healthy food was evaluated. Food deserts in the city of Youngstown were identified by placing a buffer zone around each store. Economic background, race/ethnicity, transportation access, and health conditions of people living in the City of Youngstown were investigated. The large stores that provide a variety of fresh foods were located on the boundary of the city making them less accessible to residents near the city center. Public transportation did not greatly improve access because of its limited schedule. Most of the stores easily accessible to residents did not carry fresh fruits and vegetables although they did carry a limited amount of milk, eggs, and bread. Adverse health conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, cholesterol, and obesity did not vary much between food desert regions and non-desert regions of Youngstown. All the adverse health conditions were higher in the city as compared to Mahoning County rates. There is a need to improve the availability and access to healthy and fresh food to address the well-being of the community.

Committee: Felicia Armstrong PhD (Advisor); Peter Kimosop PhD (Committee Member); Colleen McLean PhD (Committee Member); Lashale Pugh PhD (Committee Member) Subjects: Demography; Environmental Science; Geographic Information Science

MS, University of Cincinnati, 2019, Allied Health Sciences: Nutrition

Objectives: The objective of this pilot study was to develop and implement the “Most Diabetes and Health Friendly” Shelf Initiative in an urban choice food pantry. Methods: The “Most Diabetes & Health Friendly” shelf initiative was developed using grocery store marketing techniques and community based participatory research (CBPR). The program aimed to assist food pantry clients in identifying healthier food options available in a choice-food pantry. The criteria for healthier food options were established based on a literature review and current dietary recommendations. The healthiest options within each pantry section were highlighted using grocery store marketing techniques: priming, colored labeling, framing, and placement. The initiative was pilot tested in a choice pantry in Cincinnati, OH and usage was tracked for 6 months. The number of items on the intervention shelf versus general shelf was counted before and after pantry sessions. The total number items available, number items taken, and percentage items taken was tracked, calculated, then compared by section and shelf. Results: A higher total number of items was taken from the intervention shelf (1987 items) compared to the general shelf (1863 items). The intervention shelf had a higher percentage of items taken per month (32-47%) compared to the general shelf (25-45%); however, the percentage items taken from the general shelf increased overtime. There was no clear pattern of choices shown across food sections. Conclusions and Implications: Findings suggested the initiative was feasible to implement within a choice food pantry. A higher percentage of food items were taken from the intervention shelves compared to regular shelves. Further qualitative research is needed to determine whether the initiative is able to impact food pantry client's dietary intake, as well as which outside factors most influence food choices within this population.

Committee: Seung-Yeon Lee Ph.D. (Committee Chair); Francoise Knox Kazimierczuk Ph.D. (Committee Member) Subjects: Nutrition

Master of Arts (MA), Ohio University, 2017, Geography (Arts and Sciences)

Local food systems have emerged as a potential solution to both the ills of the neoliberal global food system and as a means of increasing the food security of low-income people through access to healthy, locally grown foods. However, many of the claims about local food systems are largely unsubstantiated. Although empirical research provides evidence of the difficulty food systems encounter addressing food insecurity due to deeply imbedded structures such as inequality, neoliberal entitlement cuts, and the market-based economy, additional research is needed to understand the relationship between these processes at the local level better. The Athens County, Ohio region has a thriving local food system with hundreds of individuals working to facilitate and promote the local food system. Despite this vibrant local food scene, in 2015, Athens County had a food insecurity rate of 20.4 percent that is higher than the national average of 13.4. This research addresses ways in which the local food system in the Athens region exhibits elements of neoliberalism through themes of market development, emphasis on personal responsibility, and reliance on charity. These themes are indicative of the neoliberal shift of responsibility for well-being away from the state towards individuals and community groups and the belief that the market is the site where social issues like food security are best addressed. Each of these themes creates its own set of constraints for actors in the local food system and limits their ability to decrease low-income food insecurity. Based on these findings, a set of best practices is provided to counter neoliberal tendencies in the local food system and better address local food insecurity.

Committee: Harold Perkins (Committee Chair); Risa Whitson (Committee Member); Thomas Smucker (Committee Member) Subjects: Geography

Ph.D., Antioch University, 2017, Antioch New England: Environmental Studies

This research explores intentional food practices and journeys of consciousness in a network of people in The Bahamas. Intentional food practices are defined as interactions with food chosen for particular purposes, while journeys of consciousness are cumulative successions of events that people associate with healing, restoration, and decolonization personally and collectively. This research examines (1) experiences and moments that influenced people's intentional food practices; (2) food practices that people enact daily; and (3) how people's intentional food practices connect to broader spiritual, philosophical, and ideological perspectives guiding their lives. The theoretical framework emerges from a specific lineage of theories and philosophies of hybridity, diaspora, creolization, poetics, critique, and aesthetics from the Caribbean. The research explores how intentional food practices reflect expressions of emerging foodways and identities in the Caribbean and joins them with the history of consciousness and intentional food practices in African and Caribbean diasporas. Ethnographic research methods, poetic analysis, and constant comparative analysis provided a foundation for an exploratory approach grounded in the realities of everyday lives. A purposeful snowball sample of twenty-seven (27) in-depth semi-structured interviews provided a primary method of data collection, supported by personal journals, field notes, and document review. No food security research has been published that explores intentional food practices in The Bahamas generally or on the island of New Providence specifically. Key findings suggest a broad variation in people's intentional practices. The intentions underlying these practices reflect desires for individual and collective healing, restoration, and decolonization in their daily lives. By exploring their food practices, interviewees express how they find restoration and healing through visceral experiences with their bodies.

Committee: Elizabeth McCann Ph.D. (Committee Chair); Jean Kayira Ph.D. (Committee Member); Selima Hauber Ph.D. (Committee Member); Jean Amaral (Committee Member) Subjects: Caribbean Studies; Environmental Studies; Ethnic Studies; Philosophy; Sustainability

Master of Arts, The Ohio State University, 2017, Anthropology

Food insecurity (FI) is often associated with lower dietary diversity (DD), which can have important implications for human health. In this thesis, I tested the relationship between perceived household food security status and DD in a sample of Nicaraguan households, considering how the cultural meaning of different food items shapes maternal perceptions of household food security. Data were collected from 455 households in urban and rural zones within the municipality of Leon, Nicaragua. The Latin American and Caribbean Food Security Scale (ELCSA) was used to measure household FI. The Nicaraguan 48-item food frequency questionnaire was used to measure DD over a 7-day period. Data from focus group interviews were used to explore notions of ideal foods and meal composition. Households were classified according to their level of FI: food secure (24.6%); mildly FI (49.7% of households); moderately FI (15% of households); and severely FI (11% of households). Results of Kruskal-Wallis tests showed significant differences between FI groups in DD, as gauged by both aggregated and disaggregated measures. Spearman's Rank Correlation analysis revealed a negative correlation between greater FI and DD using both an aggregated and dis-aggregated measure (correlation coefficients -0.364 and -0.246, respectively). Moreover, ordinal regression analysis indicated that higher levels of household FI were significantly associated with a lower frequency of consumption of 9 of the 48 foods including: red meat, poultry, tortillas, and milk. I considered the cultural value of these foods in effort to advance our understanding of the link between perceived FI, DD, and dietary preference among these Nicaraguan households.

Committee: Barbara Piperata PhD (Advisor); Mark Hubbe PhD (Committee Member); Douglas Crews PhD (Committee Member) Subjects: Physical Anthropology

Master of Science, The Ohio State University, 2017, Environment and Natural Resources

Food Policy Councils (FPCs) have proliferated rapidly across the United States during the last ten to fifteen years. However, FPCs manifest through a wide array of governance structures and organizational characteristics. This includes, but is not limited to, classification as a 1) nonprofit organization, 2) grassroots coalition, or 3) government- embedded council. I seek to identify whether there are differences between these three types of FPCs in terms of their institutional and organizational characteristics, discourses, and strategies. Due to the diversity and growth of the FPC movement, implications of these differences in governance structure are not well understood. While some studies cite important benefits of formal government support, others have found that independence from government agencies allows FPCs greater ideological freedom. I analyze 24 case studies, which combines 2015 survey data with analysis of the missions, visions, goals, activities, and membership/partner information as found on FPC websites. Bivariate analyses using the same survey data, but with a larger sample of 173 FPCs, complement and provide context for the case studies. This research aims to contribute to the literature about FPCs, as well as agrifood movements generally, while providing a deepened understanding of the activities and dynamics of these unique community-government collaborations towards improved food policy.

Committee: Jeff Sharp (Advisor); Kerry Ard (Committee Member); Jill Clark (Committee Member) Subjects: Agriculture; Public Policy; Sociology

MS, University of Cincinnati, 2016, Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services: Health Education

Roughly 19% of Southwest Ohio residents experience food insecurity, a rate that is substantially higher than the national average. This secondary analysis sought to describe the sociodemographic and housing unit factors associated with food insecurity and then identify which factors predicted food insecurity in Hamilton County, Ohio. Data from respondents (N=11,516) chosen systematically for participation by the American Community Survey was analyzed. A multiple regression was used to predict the occurrence of food insecurity status based on the presence of a refrigerator, access to running water, presence of a sink, presence of a stove, presence of complete kitchen facilities, availability of vehicles, household income in the past 12 months, work status in past 12 months, grandparent headed household, household presence and age of children, presence of multiple generations in household and gross rent as a percentage of household income in the past 12 months. The model was statistically significant and accounted for 11.6% of the variance of food insecurity (F =5.298, p< .001, R2 =.116). Food insecurity, as measured by food stamp/SNAP benefit usage, was predicted by vehicle availability (ß= -.065, p< .001), household income over the past twelve months (ß= -.275, p<.001) and work status over the past twelve months specifically for unemployed female householders with no husband present (ß=.096, p<.001) and female householders not in the labor force with no husband present (ß =.074, p<.001). No other variables were found to be statistically significant. These results suggest that future research clarify the connection between household income and food security status, address issues of access like reliable transportation, and develop programs to promote food security status among particularly vulnerable groups such as female-headed households.

Committee: Brittany Rosen Ph.D. (Committee Chair); Amy Bernard Ph.D. (Committee Member) Subjects: Health Education

Master of Science (MS), Ohio University, 2015, Food and Nutrition Sciences (Health Sciences and Professions)

Women are vulnerable to food insecurity, especially those who participate in food assistance programs. There is a paucity of data in West Virginia, particularly in the Mid-Ohio Valley region, where this study took place. There are numerous studies that have shown a direct correlation between food insecurity, low fruit and vegetable consumption, and poor health biomarkers such as anemia, diabetes, and obesity. This study was designed to examine the relationship among household food security to iron intake, BMI, produce intake, and produce intake behaviors of adult women from the Mid-Ohio Valley region of West Virginia participating in the West Virginia WIC and WIC FMNP programs. Females aged 18 years and older who were not pregnant, and attended the WIC clinic in Parkersburg, West Virginia were recruited during their regular clinic visits. A survey was administered that included a 6-item global healthy survey designed specifically for mothers' nutrition and health, a 10-item food security module, a produce intake and behavior checklist, and a depression scale developed by the Center for Epidemiologic Studies. Anthropometrics and clinical data such as height, weight, BMI and hemoglobin levels were obtained from WIC clinic records. T-tests, Pearson's r and Kendall's Tau-b correlations were used to assess the relationship of household food security and participation in the WIC FMNP to produce intake behaviors. Participants (n = 117) were 26 ± 5.7 years old, had a BMI of 30.4 kg/m2 ± 6.7 kg/m2 (n = 117), and a hemoglobin of 12.07g/dl ± 1.79 g/dl (n = 117). Overall, 64 (54.7%) participants were fully food secure, while 53 (45.3%) were not fully food secure and had experienced some degree of food insecurity during the previous 12 months, with 25 (21.4%), 21 (17.9%), and 7 (6%) living in households characterized by marginal, low, and very low food security, respectively. According to the depression scale, 33 of 110 (30%) participants had some degree of dep (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Darlene Berryman (Advisor); Robert Brannan (Committee Member); Julia Paxton-Pagan (Committee Member); David Holben (Committee Member) Subjects: Health; Health Care; Health Education; Health Sciences; Nutrition

Master of Science (MS), Ohio University, 2015, Food and Nutrition Sciences (Health Sciences and Professions)

Food insecurity is associated with an increase in prevalence rates of type 2 diabetes. Food insecurity is also associated with decreased levels of fruit and vegetable consumption. Similarly, type 2 diabetes is independently associated with lower intake levels of micronutrients in the diet. Plant–based diets are able to help increase food security through a reduction in average grocery costs, potentially increase micronutrient intake, as well as aid in the management and control of type 2 diabetes. This study was designed to explore the knowledge, perceptions, and barriers surrounding plant-based diets among participants with type 2 diabetes and varying levels of food security. Men and women aged between 30-70 years, diagnosed with type 2 diabetes for at least 2 years, with an HbA1c below 14.0% and living in Appalachian Ohio were recruited for this study. The Household Food Security Survey Module was used to measure food security among participants; validated surveys measuring produce intake and behavior and diabetes-related emotional distress and depression were also used for descriptive purposes. Ten adults with type 2 diabetes (age = 54 ± 10 years, hemoglobin A1c = 7.1 ± 0.7%, diabetes duration = 8.6 ± 6.1 years, BMI = 32.8 ± 3.7, 50% female, 90% White, 60% married, 10% retired, 100% food secure) participated in in-depth face-to-face interviews lasting between 30-70 min. Circumstances prevented a sample with varying levels of food security. The following results are for a highly food secure sample. Diabetes-related emotional distress and depression were low. Average self-reported fruit intake was 1.7 ± 0.9 servings daily. Average self-reported vegetable intake was 2.4 ± 1.3 servings daily. Overall, a lack of knowledge about plant-based diets existed among the majority of participants. Self-efficacy and social support surrounding the incorporation of a plant-based diet into one's lifestyle remained low due to several identified barriers. These barriers included (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Darlene Berryman (Advisor); Elizabeth Beverly (Committee Member); Robert Brannan (Committee Member); David Holben (Other) Subjects: Health; Health Education; Health Sciences; Nutrition

Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University, 2015, Agricultural, Environmental and Developmental Economics

During the Global Food Price Crisis of 2007-2011, millions of people suffered hunger because food had become too expensive. To cope with this problem, the governments of several countries implemented policies to decouple the food prices in their domestic markets from prices in the international market or, at least, to provide assistance to the most vulnerable. Two of the most usual tools employed by governments trying to control prices were the restriction of food exports and the establishment and operation of food reserves, both of them seeking to increase the domestic supply of food in times of crisis. The three essays in this dissertation investigate the potential benefits and shortcoming of these policies. I start by considering the role of food policies themselves as causes of food price volatility. In the first essay, I examine several drivers of the Global Food Price Crisis, including: i) low grain stock levels, ii) trade restrictions imposed by wheat exporters, and iii) diversion of corn production to biofuel. To quantify their effects on grain prices, I develop a stochastic spatial-temporal equilibrium model of global wheat and corn markets, featuring six interdependent markets, random yields, endogenous acreage, speculative storage, and government policies on trade and stockpiling. I find that wheat export bans and increased wheat stockpiling explain significant rises in wheat prices and modest increases in corn prices in the short-run, but that the effects of these policies on wheat and corn prices are negligible in the long run. In the long run, sustained increases in wheat and corn prices are best explained by surging demand for biofuels, through its effect on permanently diverting acreage from wheat to corn. I then turn attention to whether food reserves are an effective tool to cope with price volatility. In the second essay, I develop a model to evaluate the optimal grain storage policy for a poor grain-importing country. Households are hete (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Mario J. Miranda (Advisor); Claudio Gonzalez-Vega (Committee Member); Abdoul Sam (Committee Member) Subjects: Agricultural Economics; Economics