Degree
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Department
Agricultural and Extension Education and Evaluation
Document Type
Dissertation
Abstract
For nearly 6 decades, the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) has served marginalized communities by providing peer-led nutrition education to improve dietary behaviors and practices and addressing food insecurity among low-income families. Despite its longstanding impact with limited resource audiences, limited research has examined how EFNEP participant data can be leveraged to assess both diet quality and food insecurity in Louisiana.
This study utilized quantitative design through secondary analysis of data from EFNEP’s Web-Based Nutrition Education Evaluation and Reporting System (WebNEERS). The research examined participant demographics, perceptions of diet quality and food security, and food choice behaviors before and after program participation. Key objectives included evaluating EFNEP’s influence on perceptions of dietary behavior, understanding the role of food insecurity in diet quality, and identifying barriers and facilitators to improve nutrition in LSU AgCenter’s EFNEP framework.
The study sample consisted of 102 EFNEP graduates., with 70.3% identifying as Black or African American, 76.8% as women, 54.9% reporting living in towns under 10,000 and non-rural farms, and 56.9% reporting an education level of less than a college degree. Findings revealed modest improvements in food-related behaviors, including diet quality, food resource management, and food security. Statistically significant differences were observed in post-program perceptions of diet quality (p < .05) and healthy eating behaviors (p < .01). Female participants and those with higher education attainment reported greater adoption of healthy eating behaviors, suggesting EFNEP-acquired skills.
The findings contribute to the academic literature on nutrition education and food insecurity among limited-resource populations in Louisiana. Results provide EFNEP administrators with evidence to strengthen and realign the program to effectively in address dietary behaviors and food insecurity throughout statewide among vulnerable populations.
Date
11-3-2025
Recommended Citation
Charles, Sharman J., "Examining Diet Quality and Food Insecurity Among Louisiana EFNEP Participants" (2025). LSU Doctoral Dissertations. 6960.
https://repository.lsu.edu/gradschool_dissertations/6960
Committee Chair
Melissa W. Cater