Discussion 5.1: Health Disparities NUR 740

Healthy People 2020 categorizes the determinates of health into five categories including economic, personal, biological, environmental, and social (Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, n.d.). These categories overlap and intertwine with each other to influence a person’s overall health. Some factors are impossible to change like genetic makeup and family history of a disease. Others seem more malleable such as diet and exercise. However, social determinants can largely impact personal behaviors and physical environments. Food insecurity is when individuals or households do not have access to the nutritious and fresh food options needed to sustain a healthy lifestyle (National Academics of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, 2021). Food insecurity can be caused by physical location. Neighborhoods in low-income or rural areas may only have a high concentration of fast-food chains and gas stations nearby (National Academics of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, 2021). This circumstance is known as a food desert. People have limited choices for their diet when grocery stores and other fresh food options are out of the way. Income is another source of food insecurity. High quality food and ingredients can be expensive. Dollar menu fast food may be a more affordable alternative than a homemade salad. The United States has seen the largest increase in food insecurity since the 1990s due to COVID-19 pandemic (Hake, et al., 2021).

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) is a federally funded program created in 1946 to provide balanced meals to children in public and private schools (United States Department of Agriculture, 2017). The program came from the passage of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (United States Department of Agriculture, 2017). It works to distribute free or low-cost nutritious lunches to students. It is important for children to have food that properly fuels their body to promote physical and mental development. School is an environment allowing convenient access to children. School also has lunchtime schedule so meals can be delivered seamlessly. The COVID-19 proved to challenge these standard conditions. School was cancelled and students were required to stay home.

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The NSLP attempted to restructure by offering ‘to-go’ style lunches where parents could pick up the meals to take home (U.S. GAO, 2021). However, participation was still down 30% from the last year (U.S. GAO, 2021). I would suggest the program continue expanding to offer more flexible options. The pick-up option can be standardized and continued even after the pandemic. Meals can be prepared and stored to last longer than one sitting. For example, a parent can pick up an insulated box with three meals instead of one. This is a great option for when school is remote, or students are on a holiday break. The NSLP should also consider providing additional items for children to have as an after-school snack. Ideal options would be food that can be stored at room temperature such as apples, nuts, and granola bars. The NSLP only caters to children; however, there are other federally funded programs targeted towards adults. All federal food programs work towards ending food insecurity in the United States.

Discussion 5.1: Health Disparities NUR 740

References

Hake, M., Dewey, A., Engelhard, E., Strayer, M., Dawes, S., Summerfelt, T., & Gundersen, C. (2021, March). The impact of the coronavirus on food insecurity in 2020 & 2021. Feeding America. Retrieved May 19, 2022, from https://www.feedingamerica.org/sites/default/files/2021-03/National%20Projections%20Brief_3.9.2021_0.pdf

Links to an external site.

National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine; National Academy of Medicine; Committee on the Future of Nursing 2020–2030. (2021, May 11). Chapter 2, “Social determinants of health and health equity (Links to an external site.)

Links to an external site..” In J. L. Flaubert, S. Le Menestrel, D. R. Williams, & M. K. Wakefield (Eds.), The future of nursing 2020–2030: Charting a path to achieve health equity. National Academies Press.

Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. (n.d.). Determinants of health. Healthy People 2020. Retrieved May 18, 2022, from https://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/about/foundation-health-measures/Determinants-of-Health

Links to an external site.

United States Department of Agriculture. (2017). The national school lunch program. Retrieved May 19, 2022, from https://fns-prod.azureedge.us/sites/default/files/resource-files/NSLPFactSheet.pdf

U.S. GAO. (2021, October 12). Addressing food insecurity in America, before and during the pandemic. https://www.gao.gov/blog/addressing-food-insecurity-america%2C-and-during-pandemic

Hi Skylar,

R: Thank you for your post. I agree with you that social determinants can affect personal behaviors and physical environments. Evidence points that unhealthy diet lead to various chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, cancer and many more. Even though high quality food and ingredients can be expensive, the benefit outweighs the cost. Food is a determinant to health and lack of access to affordable and nutritious food is a major public health problem especially for those in low socio economic status. Just like The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) that provides free foods or low cost lunches to the students to help fuel their body to promote physical and mental development. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) also defend against food insecurity and hunger. It has reduced food insecurity by 30%.

I: Do you know that more than some of the people who are food insecure do not qualify for SNAP, therefore they are left with few options of getting healthy food?

S: The eligibility status of these free food or discounted food supply makes it difficult for many to have assess to healthy foods. I refer you to read the “Social Determinants of Health – Food Insecurity by Altarum” to learn more on the eligibility stamp by these food suppliers. I believe that there should be no barrier to receiving foods from these organization.

E: Good post.

Reference

Social Determinants of Health – Food Insecurity by Altarum” https://www.healthcarevaluehub.org/improving-value/browse-strategy/social-determinants-health-food-insecurity

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