Association between access to health food, parental efficacy for preparing healthy food and child consumption of health food among ethnically diverse low-income families

The Mare Island Health and Fitness Academy Study is a multi-year assessment of students (K-8) and family healthy eating /active living attitudes and behaviors and access to healthy food . Participating families are ethnically diverse, low-income and live in “food dessert” neighborhoods in Vallejo, California with limited access to healthy food. The focus of this analysis is to assess the association between parents’ self-reported challenges/barriers to purchasing fruits, vegetables and other healthy foods (access), self-efficacy related to preparing healthy foods, and child’s consumption of fruits and vegetables. Data was collected in Fall 2014 (n=300, 76.4% response rate). Approximately 26% of parents reported barriers to purchasing fruits, vegetables and other healthy foods. Parents who reported no barriers were more likely to report daily consumption of vegetables by their children (68.0%) vs. parents who reported they did have barriers (55.8%), (p=0.027). Parent’s self-efficacy in purchasing & preparing healthy foods was assessed by a 7-item scaled variable, measured by responses ranging from 0 (not confident) to 4 (very confident). Barriers to purchasing healthy foods were significantly associated with parent’s self-efficacy for preparing healthy foods; parents with no barriers had significantly higher self-efficacy (mean=3.5, SD=0.7) than parents with barriers (mean=2.9, SD=0 .7), (p<0.001). These findings demonstrate the importance of access to healthy foods in determining parental self-efficacy in preparing healthy foods and for children’s healthy food consumption. Schools should partner with families and other community groups to advocate for improved access to healthy foods in the important settings of home and neighborhood.