Authors:

Sarah McCartney

Date Created:

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About Paper:

Background: Although research has been conducted discussing the prevalence of food insecurity nationally, studies have yet to examine the difference between rural and urban counties in Florida. Florida's distinct and different areas allow for the correlational study between various groups that can be applied to the greater United States. The objective of this study was to examine rural-urban differences in food insecurity and availability among Florida counties. Data for this project were obtained from Robert Wood Johnson (RWJ) County Rankings related to county level rates related to food insecurity and accessibility among individuals living in Florida. Key outcome variables were the percentage of food insecurity, percentage of limited access to healthy foods, and percentage of children eligible for free and reduced lunch. Comparisons were made between rural vs urban counties as defined by the Florida public health system using a correlational analysis. Results: State level data indicated that rural counties have more food insecurity than urban counties in Florida. These findings further indicate that the type of community in Florida affects one's access to healthy food and the likelihood of utilizing the free and reduced lunch program. Conclusion: The data highlights that rural counties have more food insecurity than urban counties in Florida. This study revealed that the type of community in Florida affects one's access to healthy food and a greater likelihood of utilizing the free and reduced lunch program. The difference in results between the two categories may be due to various factors, including grocery stores, average socio-economic status in the communities, and residential segregation.

Source:

University of Florida / Sarah McCartney, Charles Ellis / 2023

Topics:

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Co-authors:

Sarah McCartney