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The Relationship of Food Security, Cervical Health, and Produce Intake in Rural Appalachia

Hewage, Sumali S.
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1397295968

Abstract Details

2014, Master of Science (MS), Ohio University, Food and Nutrition Sciences (Health Sciences and Professions).
Food insecurity is associated with lower produce intake. Consumption of produce (vegetables and fruit) high in antioxidants may reduce risk of human papillomavirus (HPV) and cervical dysplasia. This study was designed to examine the differences in HPV status by food security status; differences in risky sexual behaviors by food security status; differences in produce intake/behaviors by food security status; differences in produce intake/behaviors by HPV status; and the association of produce intake/behaviors and food security, adjusted for demographic confounders including the HPV status among women in rural Appalachia who were attending a clinic for gynecological care. Females who were English speaking and writing, 21 years and older, and attending a health clinic for cervical screening/testing (includes Papanicolaou [Pap] test, HPV test, and/or colposcopy) were recruited. A survey including questions from the U.S. Department of Agriculture household adult food security module, validated produce intake and behavior-related questions, and Community Awareness Resources and Education (CARE) Risky Sexual Behavior Index was used. HPV results were obtained from the clinic. Participants (n = 153) (HPV negative, n = 139 [91.4%]; HPV positive, n = 13 [8.6%]) were 29 &#xb1; 8 years and primarily White/Non-Hispanic (n = 144, 94.1%). For household adult food security, 113 (75.3%) were fully food secure, while 37 (24.7%) women were not fully food secure. According to the CARE Risky Sexual Behavior Index categorization, there were 49 (35.5%) women at a low-risk level, 28 (20.3%) at a medium-risk level, and 61 (44.2%) who were at a high-risk level. Most (66%) of the study participants met the U.S. recommendations for daily fruit and vegetable intake. There were no significance differences in food security status, produce intake or produce intake behaviors by HPV status. Women who were not fully food secure showed significantly higher Risky Sexual Behavior scores, compared to their fully food secure counterparts (p < 0.001). Although produce intake did not differ between food security status groups, perceived diet quality scores were significantly higher in fully food secure women, compared to not fully food secure women (p = 0.014), with median scores of 78.68 and 59.57, respectively. After adjusting for demographic confounders, Univariate General Linear Model analysis results showed that perceived diet quality score was a predictor for the household adult food security scale score (p = 0.019). Additionally, insurance (p < 0.001), education (p = 0.004), smoking status (p = 0.006) significantly predicted the household adult food security scale score. Overall, food insecurity appears to lead to or result in higher risky sexual behaviors and poorer perceived diet quality. Further studies with larger samples are required to examine produce intake and related behaviors among women with increased risk for cervical cancer development in rural Appalachian Ohio.
David Holben (Committee Chair)
Alexander Sergeev (Committee Member)
Jennifer Yoder (Committee Member)
230 p.
Food Science
Food security; human papillomavirus; produce intake; risky sexual behaviors; women in rural Appalachia

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Hewage, S. S. (2014). The Relationship of Food Security, Cervical Health, and Produce Intake in Rural Appalachia [Master's thesis, Ohio University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1397295968

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Hewage, Sumali. The Relationship of Food Security, Cervical Health, and Produce Intake in Rural Appalachia. 2014. Ohio University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1397295968.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Hewage, Sumali. "The Relationship of Food Security, Cervical Health, and Produce Intake in Rural Appalachia." Master's thesis, Ohio University, 2014. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1397295968

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

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This open access ETD is published by Ohio University and OhioLINK.