Beatrice Lorge Rogers

The Effects of School Garden Experiences on Middle School–Aged Students' Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behaviors Associated With Vegetable Consumption

This study describes the effects of garden-based education on children’s vegetable consumption. As part of a pre—post panel study, 236 students complete the Garden Vegetable Frequency Questionnaire and 161 complete a taste test. Results indicate that school gardening may affect children’s vegetable consumption, including improved recognition of, attitudes toward, preferences for, and willingness to taste vegetables. Gardening also increases the variety of vegetables eaten. Future research should explore whether effects persist over time and if and how changes in children’s behavior affect the behavior of their caregivers. Implications of study findings for policy and practice are discussed. Suggestions for applying results to future health promotions are provided.

Children's nutritional status in female-headed households in the Dominican Republic

A national representative household survey of food consumption, income, and expenditure was conducted in the Dominican Republic in 1986 by Tufts University School of Nutrition in cooperation with USAID Office of Nutrition [1: Rogers B. L. and Swindale A. Determinants of Food Consumption in the Dominican Republic. USAID/S & T/Nutrition, Washington, DC, 1988]. Out of 1440 families surveyed 706 had children under 6 years of age. Anthropometric indicators of height and weight were collected for all 1251 children in the sample in a follow-up study conducted from December 1986 to January 1987 by Tufts with USAID/Santo Domingo Mission funding. Anthropometric measurements were converted to standard deviation scores using NCHS standards; nutritional status was thus measured by height-for-age (HAZ), weight-for-age (WAZ), and weight-for-height (WHZ). Earnings in families with children having males as heads-of-household were roughly one-third greater than in those with females as household head; total income was also greater in these families, though not significantly. More calories and protein per adult equivalent were available in male-headed families as well. In spite of this superior economic and dietary situation, there was a trend throughout the entire sample for children of female-headed households to be taller and heavier for their age than those of two parent homes; all three anthropometric measures showed differences in the same direction. In the lowest expenditure quartile, WAZ and WHZ were significantly greater for children in female-headed households than their counterparts in male-headed households (WAZ: P = 0.01, WHZ: P = 0.00).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Coexistence of maternal central adiposity and child stunting in Mexico

Objective:To assess the coexistence of maternal adiposity and child stunting (CS) in Mexico, estimate its national prevalence and identify the associated socio-demographic factors.Methods:A secondary analysis from the Mexican Nutrition Survey 1999, a nationally representative survey, was conducted. Mother and children subsamples were matched and a total of 6225 mother/child pairs were obtained. Stunting was defined as height-for-age z-scores <−2.0. Maternal body mass index (BMI) was classified according to World Health Organization recommended cutoff points. Waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) was calculated by dividing waist by hip circumferences. Logistic regression models were fitted to explore the coexistence of CS and maternal central adiposity (MCA) (WHR⩾0.85) while controlling for biological and socio-demographic factors.Results:A total of 5974 pairs had complete information. MCA coexisted with CS in 6.2% of the mother/child pairs. The phenomenon was more prevalent in rural locations, in the south region and among indigenous families (14.5, 12.5 and 23.9%). After controlling for child age and maternal BMI, a 78% increase in the likelihood of CS was related to maternal WHR ⩾0.85 (odds ratio (OR)=1.78, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.53, 2.10). After controlling for maternal height, the magnitude of the OR decreased (OR=1.33, 95%CI=1.13, 1.57), but remained significant. Therefore, it is suggested that women with a WHR ∼1 have had twice the probability of having a stunted child as those with a WHR of 0.65.Conclusion:Although MCA and CS are two conditions frequently regarded as result of opposite determinants, our observation suggests that this is not necessarily the case, particularly in populations undergoing the nutrition transition. MCA was associated not only to chronic diseases, but also to child stunting.

The implications of female household headship for food consumption and nutritional status in the Dominican Republic

Abstract Female control of household resources is often associated with consumption preferences which favor basic needs and child welfare. Using data from the Dominican Republic, this study tests differences in spending patterns, consumption preferences, and child nutritional (anthropometric) status according to four definitions of female household headship. Female-headed households (FHH) allocate the same amount or less of their budgets to food than male-headed households (MHH), in absolute and proportional terms. FHH consume higher quality, more expensive and protein-dense foods (more animal products; less of beans and rice) than MHH. Average caloric adequacy per adult-equivalent is equal or lower in FHH, but childrens anthropometric status is the same or higher; it is significantly higher in low-income FHH, possibly due to intrahousehold allocation of food which favors children.

Relationship Between Past Food Deprivation and Current Dietary Practices and Weight Status Among Cambodian Refugee Women in Lowell, MA

OBJECTIVES We investigated Cambodian refugee womens past food experiences and the relationship between those experiences and current food beliefs, dietary practices, and weight status. METHODS Focus group participants (n = 11) described past food experiences and current health-related food beliefs and behaviors. We randomly selected survey participants (n = 133) from a comprehensive list of Cambodian households in Lowell, Massachusetts. We collected height, weight, 24-hour dietary recall, food beliefs, past food experience, and demographic information. We constructed a measure of past food deprivation from focus group and survey responses. We analyzed data with multivariate logistic and linear regression models. RESULTS Participants experienced severe past food deprivation and insecurity. Those with higher past food-deprivation scores were more likely to currently report eating meat with fat (odds ratio [OR] = 1.14 for every point increase on the 9-to-27-point food-deprivation measure), and to be overweight or obese by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (OR = 1.28) and World Health Organization (OR = 1.18) standards. CONCLUSIONS Refugees who experienced extensive food deprivation or insecurity may be more likely to engage in unhealthful eating practices and to be overweight or obese than are those who experienced less-extreme food deprivation or insecurity.

Alternative definitions of female headship in the Dominican Republic

Abstract Different definitions of female household headship have different implications for the economic status and welfare of members of female headed households (FHH). Using data from the Dominican Republic, this study compares four definitions of FHH: self-definition; no adult males (18–60) present; female earns over 50% of earned or of total income. The definitions are associated, but each defines a different group. Half of self-defined FHH contain adult males; half of those in which the woman is the major earner are self-defined FHH. In the Dominican Republic, female headship by any definition is not associated with lower income per capita, but sources of income are quite different: FHH are more dependent on transfers and gifts than wages; FHH defined by earnings are of higher income on average. Demographic composition of FHH is significantly different from male headed households MHH.

“He said, she said”: who should speak for households about experiences of food insecurity in Bangladesh?

This paper examines the extent to which males and females from the same household respond differently to household food insecurity questions, and explores the reasons for these differences and the impact for measurement. The data derive from the 2001–2003 Bangladesh Food Insecurity Measurement and Validation Study. Male and female enumerators administered the food insecurity questionnaire to women and men in the same household during three survey rounds and debriefed a subsample of men and women regarding their response discrepancies. The rate of discordance in male-female responses to individual items was examined using contingency tables. Potential explanations for the discordance were informed by the joint respondent debriefing. These hypotheses were assessed through an examination of response patterns. To assess the impact of discordance on measurement, female and male responses to a scale of 13 food insecurity items were compared and the degree of differential classification was assessed. On average the rate of discordance was 15%, but it ranged for particular items from less than 1% to upwards of 53%. Item content interacted with gender to produce discordance; women and men seemed to respond differently due to separate spheres of responsibility within the same household, power imbalances influencing intra-household food allocation, and because men seemed to take more psychological responsibility for ensuring the household food supply. Nearly one-third of households were classified in a different food security category using female versus male responses to the items. The results suggest that the household food insecurity construct is not as useful in places like Bangladesh where certain food insecurity-related manifestations are not collectively or similarly shared by members of the same living space. Individual-level measures of food insecurity are needed to complement household data, along with surveys that allow for proportionate representation of potentially vulnerable individuals with different demographic characteristics across the population.

Food Stamps and Food Spending: An Engel Function Approach

Estimation of Food Stamp Program (FSP) effects has been complicated by self-selection and by a contradiction between observed spending patterns and the economic theory of consumer choice. We developed a modified version of the traditional theory, in which participant households may be partly extramarginal even if they have some cash spending on at-home food. Using Current Population Survey (CPS) data for 2001-2005, we estimated Engel functions for at-home and away-from-home food spending for FSP participants and nonparticipants. Compared to nonparticipants with the same level of total income, participants had higher at-home food spending and lower away-from-home food spending. Copyright 2007, Oxford University Press.

Intrahousehold allocation of energy intake among children under five years and their parents in rural Bangladesh.

Objective: This study assesses intrahousehold allocation of energy in rural Bangladesh and tests the hypothesis that, when daily energy intake is adjusted for energy expenditure, no age or gender bias will be apparent in intrahousehold energy allocation.Design: Data were collected at two-month intervals over a one year study.Setting: Four villages in Matlab Thana, rural Bangladesh.Subjects: Two hundred and seven children up to 5 y of age and their 145 mothers and 123 fathers.Interventions: Data included six measurements of observed 24 h dietary energy intake and physical activity recorded from waking to sleeping. Total daily energy expenditure was derived using the factorial method.Results: Women’s energy intake ranged from 75–88% of the FAO/WHO recommended energy intake over the six periods of data collection, significantly less (P<0.0001) than the men’s (range 89–114%). Although the women had moderate levels of physical activity, frequent pregnancies and long lactation periods increased their energy needs. Among children no longer breast fed, energy consumption, unadjusted for energy expenditure, provided 86–108% of the FAO/WHO recommended energy intake by weight.Conclusions: Women consistently received less of their energy requirements than either their children or their husbands.Sponsorship: This work was supported in part by the Stare Nutrition Education Fund at the Harvard School of Public Health.

Price policy and food consumption in urban Mali

Abstract This study investigates the food consumption patterns of different income classes in urban areas of Mali in order to assess the probable effects on dietary adequacy of the expected increase in the consumer price of rice brought about by food policy reform, initiated in 1981. The results are to a degree counterintuitive, demonstrating that understanding consumption patterns and their determinants is critical to informed policy making.