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Sato H, Sudo N, Takeda T, Shimada I, Tsuboyama-Kasaoka N. Revision of "Nutritional Reference Values for Feeding at Evacuation Shelters" and Model Menus: A Qualitative Study. JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN NUTRITION ASSOCIATION 2024; 43:157-166. [PMID: 37579054 DOI: 10.1080/27697061.2023.2241129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2023] [Accepted: 07/23/2023] [Indexed: 08/16/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE In 2011, the Japanese government issued nutritional reference values for energy; protein; vitamins B1, B2, and C; and salt to deal with poor meal quality in evacuation shelters. Because they were not widely used owing to their impracticality, the authors had examined the values according to the experience-based opinions of public health dietitians. Furthermore, we developed a usage tool containing a model menu that meets these values. This study aimed to confirm the usability of these revised values and model menus and collect ideas for improvement. METHODS We conducted 8 semi-structured group interviews with 12 dietitians, 9 disaster management officers, and 2 public health nurses in local governments supposed to have been affected by a large-scale disaster. RESULTS New reference values were highly evaluated by most participants. Interviewees said that model menus were helpful for evacuees or disaster officers who are unfamiliar with nutrition because they show combinations of food items that meet the reference values instead of the amounts of energy and nutrients. To improve their understanding, it was suggested that food items be categorized by staples, main dishes, and side dishes, encouraging them to complete these three components of a balanced diet. Because it was difficult to meet all the reference values in the immediate aftermath of the disaster, it was suggested that the time-dependent priority of each nutrient and model menus that supply the nutrient should be shown by disaster phases along with the assumed availability of utility for cooking in each phase. CONCLUSION The new reference values were feasible to meet during emergencies. Although model menus were also appreciated, further improvements were necessary for better understanding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroka Sato
- Department of Food and Nutritional Science, Division of Life Sciences, Graduate School of Humanities and Sciences, Ochanomizu University, Bunkyo City, Japan
| | - Noriko Sudo
- Natural Science Division, Faculty of Core Research, Ochanomizu University, Bunkyo City, Japan
| | - Tamaki Takeda
- Department of Food and Nutritional Science, Division of Life Sciences, Graduate School of Humanities and Sciences, Ochanomizu University, Bunkyo City, Japan
| | - Ikuko Shimada
- Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Nutrition, University of Kochi, Kochi City, Japan
| | - Nobuyo Tsuboyama-Kasaoka
- Section of Global Disaster Nutrition, National Institutes of Biomedical Innovation, Health and Nutrition, Settsu City, Japan
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Ahmed M, Richardson A, Riad J, McPherson C, Sellen DW, Malik VS. Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the adaptability and resiliency of school food programs across Canada. Front Public Health 2024; 11:1296620. [PMID: 38235159 PMCID: PMC10791823 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1296620] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Following the sudden closure of schools due to the pandemic in 2020, many school food program (SFP) operators lost their operating venues and had to innovate to continue distributing meals to children. Our objective was to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the delivery, adaptability, and resiliency of school food programs across Canada by conducting a systematic rapid review. Materials and methods Systematic literature searches identified newspaper articles and social media sources related to the adaptations and challenges faced by school food programs across Canada in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Included sources were assessed and thematically categorized according to the dimensions of the Analysis Grid for Environments Linked to Obesity (ANGELO) and Getting To Equity (GTE) frameworks to identify factors impacting the delivery, adaptability, and resiliency of school food programs in Canada. Results School food programs in Canada made various efforts to meet existing and new challenges associated with the delivery of these programs to keep feeding school children, particularly those most vulnerable, during the pandemic. Distribution of food kits, prepared meals and gift cards/coupons were successful pathways in ensuring support for food accessibility to students and their families. Increased collaborations between community members and organizations/stakeholders to help maintain food delivery or collectively offer new modes to deliver foods were most frequently cited as key to facilitating school food programming. However, maintenance and sustainability related to operating costs and funding were identified as key challenges to successful school food programming. Conclusion Our study highlights the swift and substantial transformation school food programs,, underwent in response to the pandemic, driven by the urgent need to ensure that students still had access to nutritious meals and the importance of policy and resource support to bolster the adaptability and resiliency of these programs. Findings on facilitators and challenges to school food programs during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic can inform development of guidelines to design a robust national Canadian school food program and help make existing programs more sustainable, adaptable, and resilient.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mavra Ahmed
- Joannah and Brian Lawson Centre for Child Nutrition, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Alana Richardson
- Joannah and Brian Lawson Centre for Child Nutrition, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Jessica Riad
- Joannah and Brian Lawson Centre for Child Nutrition, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Chelsea McPherson
- Joannah and Brian Lawson Centre for Child Nutrition, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Daniel W. Sellen
- Joannah and Brian Lawson Centre for Child Nutrition, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Vasanti S. Malik
- Joannah and Brian Lawson Centre for Child Nutrition, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Nutrition, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States
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Martínez-Lozano M, Fraticelli F, Irizarry J, Almodóvar-Rivera I, Nunn M, Joshipura KJ. Impact of Hurricanes Irma and Maria on Asthma, Hypertension, and Depression in a Sample of the Puerto Rico Population. Disaster Med Public Health Prep 2023; 17:e508. [PMID: 37830371 PMCID: PMC10593494 DOI: 10.1017/dmp.2023.170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/14/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To evaluate the impact of Hurricanes Irma and Maria on 3 major chronic diseases in Puerto Rico. METHODS San Juan Overweight Adults Longitudinal study participants were re-evaluated after Hurricanes Irma and Maria (May 2019-July 2020) for the Preparedness to Reduce Exposures and Diseases Post-hurricanes and Augment Resilience study. This study compared the prevalence and incidence of asthma, depression, and hypertension within the same 364 individuals over time. RESULTS Asthma and depression prevalence and incidence did not change significantly after the hurricanes. The prevalence of hypertension increased significantly after the hurricanes (OR = 2.2, 95% CI: 1.2, 3.9). The incidence of hypertension after the hurricanes (IR = 9.0, 95% CI: 6.5, 12.4) increased significantly compared to before the hurricanes (IR = 6.1, 95% CI: 4.5, 8.0) (age-adjusted incidence rate ratio [aIRR] = 1.4, 95% CI: 4.5, 8.0) for similar time periods. CONCLUSION Hurricanes Irma and Maria were associated with a significant increase in the prevalence and incidence of hypertension in this study population. Contrary to expectations, no significant increases were observed in depression and asthma prevalence after the hurricanes. Results from this study can inform better strategies to prevent and manage hypertension in the population affected by a hurricane.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marijulie Martínez-Lozano
- Center for Clinical Research and Health Promotion, University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Department of Public Health, Ponce Health Sciences University, Ponce, Puerto Rico
| | - Frank Fraticelli
- Department of Public Health, Ponce Health Sciences University, Ponce, Puerto Rico
| | - Jessica Irizarry
- Department of Public Health, Ponce Health Sciences University, Ponce, Puerto Rico
| | - Israel Almodóvar-Rivera
- Department of Mathematical Sciences, University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez, Mayagüez, Puerto Rico
| | | | - Kaumudi J. Joshipura
- Center for Clinical Research and Health Promotion, University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- School of Public Health, Ahmedabad University, Ahmedabad, India
- Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA
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Takeda T, Sudo N, Tsuboyama-Kasaoka N, Shimada I, Sato K, Shibamura Y, Nagao-Sato S. Meal plans for meeting the reference values using food items available in shelters. BMC Nutr 2023; 9:73. [PMID: 37353826 DOI: 10.1186/s40795-023-00726-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2022] [Accepted: 06/14/2023] [Indexed: 06/25/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND We have suggested "Revised Nutritional Reference Values for Feeding at Evacuation Shelters" (Revised RV) as a daily nutritional recommendation for meals served at evacuation shelters where poor diets had been reported. Since there are no meal examples to satisfy the Revised RV, our objectives were, for the future meal provision, to develop nutritionally adequate meal plans using the foods served at shelters in the past and to examine if the Revised RV could be met by changing combination of foods available. METHODS In this case study using secondary data, we analyzed food weights of 86 meals served and recorded at 12 shelters after the heavy rains in July 2020. We obtained these data from Kumamoto Prefecture that was damaged and asked us dietary assessment for nutrition assistance. Foods were classified into 3 types according to the check mark in the record sheets: food aid (commercial packaged food), boxed meal, and hot meal service. We counted serving frequency of each food and analyzed nutritional differences by their combinations. Menus were devised by choosing foods that were served more frequently or were more nutritious among those served at shelters. The target values for one meal were set at 1/3 of the Revised RV for energy, protein, vitamins B1, B2, and C, and salt. RESULTS None of the meals served in the shelters satisfied the target. We created 2 menus using food aid only: (#1 curry doughnut, milk with long shelf-life, and orange jelly) and (#2 salmon rice ball, ham and cheese sandwich, and vegetable juice); 1 menu by combination of boxed meal and food aid: (#3 boxed meal and vegetable juice); and 2 menus by combination of hot meal service and food aid: (#4 chicken meatball soup, packaged tofu, soy sauce, preprocessed white rice, and bottled green tea) and (#5 bamboo shoots rice, chicken and vegetable miso soup, and bottled green tea). Planned menus generally contained more energy, protein, and vitamins and less salt than the meals served. Their vitamin C contents were especially higher. CONCLUSION Nutritionally adequate meals could be planned by changing the combination of foods available in shelters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamaki Takeda
- The Graduate School of Humanities and Sciences, Ochanomizu University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Noriko Sudo
- Natural Science Division, Faculty of Core Research, Ochanomizu University, Tokyo, Japan.
| | - Nobuyo Tsuboyama-Kasaoka
- Section of Global Disaster Nutrition, International Center for Nutrition and Information, National Institute of Health and Nutrition, National Institutes of Biomedical Innovation, Health and Nutrition, Osaka, Japan
| | - Ikuko Shimada
- Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Nutrition, University of Kochi, Kochi, Japan
| | - Keiichi Sato
- School of Network and Information, Senshu University, Kawasaki, Japan
| | - Yuki Shibamura
- The Graduate School of Humanities and Sciences, Ochanomizu University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Sayaka Nagao-Sato
- The Graduate School of Humanities and Sciences, Ochanomizu University, Tokyo, Japan
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Martínez-Lozano M, Noboa C, Alvarado-González G, Joshipura KJ. Hurricanes Irma and Maria and Diabetes incidence in Puerto Rico. BMC Public Health 2023; 23:1019. [PMID: 37254127 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-023-15542-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2022] [Accepted: 03/27/2023] [Indexed: 06/01/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To evaluate the impact of Hurricanes Irma/Maria on diabetes incidence in Puerto Rico. Mortality increased substantially after the hurricanes, but morbidity was not assessed. METHODS We recruited 364 participants from the San Juan Overweight Adults Longitudinal Study (SOALS) aged 40-65 years who completed a three-year follow-up and were free of diabetes. We conducted additional questionnaires 1.7-2.5 years after hurricanes. Glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), fasting glucose and insulin were assessed at all three visits. We compared diabetes incidence between pre-hurricane visits and between visits spanning the hurricanes using Generalized Estimating Equation (GEE) adjusting for within person repeated measures, age, and body mass index (BMI). RESULTS Diabetes incidence was significantly higher spanning the hurricanes than pre-hurricane (multivariate GEE model: IRR = 2.1; 95% CI: 1.4-3.1). There was a significantly higher increase spanning the hurricanes compared to pre-hurricanes for Homeostatic Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) (median: 0.3 uIU/mL vs. 0.2 uIU/mL). HbA1c levels increased by 0.4% spanning the hurricanes. CONCLUSION Increases in diabetes incidence, HOMA-IR and HbA1c were higher spanning the hurricanes compared to the pre-hurricanes period. The increase in diabetes incidence remains significant after adjusting for age and BMI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marijulie Martínez-Lozano
- Center for Clinical Research and Health Promotion, University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences Campus Suite A 107, Box 365067, San Juan, Puerto Rico, 00935, USA
| | - Carlamarie Noboa
- Center for Clinical Research and Health Promotion, University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences Campus Suite A 107, Box 365067, San Juan, Puerto Rico, 00935, USA
| | | | - Kaumudi J Joshipura
- Center for Clinical Research and Health Promotion, University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences Campus Suite A 107, Box 365067, San Juan, Puerto Rico, 00935, USA.
- School of Public Health, Ahmedabad University, Ahmedabad , India.
- Department of Epidemiology, HARVARD SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH, Boston , USA.
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Singleton CR, Chaparro MP, O'Malley K, Fuster M, Rose D. Emergency food distribution efforts in New Orleans, LA after Hurricane Ida. Front Public Health 2022; 10:968552. [PMID: 36159295 PMCID: PMC9489999 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.968552] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2022] [Accepted: 08/17/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The provision of food aid after a natural disaster is necessary to prevent hunger, particularly in low-resourced and low-income communities. Little is known about the operational challenges associated with ensuring equitable distribution of emergency food resources to communities in need following a disaster. To address this gap, this study assessed emergency food distribution efforts in New Orleans, LA during the 2 weeks following Hurricane Ida's landfall on August 29, 2021. Methods Information on free food distribution events was gathered from online sources. A list of distribution sites was generated that included data on operational logistics (e.g., address, days of operation, hours of operation, etc.), food offerings (e.g., prepared meals, groceries, etc.), and socio-demographic characteristics of the surrounding community. Geospatial mapping and bivariate analyses were used to analyze the site data. Results Seventy-four distribution sites operated in the 2 weeks after Hurricane Ida. Approximately 47.3% were located in census tracts with >80% Black residents, and 39.2% were in tracts with >30% poverty. A large proportion of sites offered prepared meals (86.2%) and only operated 1 day (36.5%). Tracts with >80% Black residents had more sites that operated only 1 day (p = 0.04). Tracts with >30% poverty had more sites that started distributing food resources 7-15 days after the hurricane (p = 0.02). Conclusions Most low-income and low-resourced communities in New Orleans had access to emergency food resources; however, several limitations in operations were identified that may have influenced access. Future initiatives to prevent hunger after a natural disaster in New Orleans, and elsewhere, should improve operational logistics for food aid.
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Zhong T, Crush J, Si Z, Scott S. Emergency food supplies and food security in Wuhan and Nanjing, China, during the COVID-19 pandemic: Evidence from a field survey. DEVELOPMENT POLICY REVIEW : THE JOURNAL OF THE OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE 2022; 40:e12575. [PMID: 34548764 PMCID: PMC8444884 DOI: 10.1111/dpr.12575] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2021] [Accepted: 06/28/2021] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
MOTIVATION Detailed empirical work on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on food security is scant. Local management of food security has received little attention. PURPOSE This article describes emergency food policies in Wuhan and Nanjing, China during lockdown in 2020 and their implications for household food security in the two cities. METHODS AND APPROACH Policy documents and background data describe the emergency measures. Online surveys of residents of two Chinese cities were used to gauge household food security. FINDINGS Despite the determined efforts of provincial and city governments to ensure that food reached people who were locked down in Wuhan, or subject to restrictions on movement in Nanjing, households experienced some decline in food security. Most households found they could not access their preferred foods. But a minority of households did not get enough to eat.Government had contingency plans for the pandemic that ensured that most people had sufficient, if not preferred, food. But not all households were fully covered. POLICY IMPLICATIONS A more resilient system of food distribution is needed, including a relatively closed and independent home delivery system. Grassroots organizations such as residential community committees, property management organizations, and spontaneous volunteer groups need to be brought into the management of emergency food provision.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taiyang Zhong
- School of Geography and Ocean ScienceNanjing UniversityChina
| | - Jonathan Crush
- Balsillie School of International Affairs, Canada, and University of the Western CapeSouth Africa
| | | | - Steffanie Scott
- Department of Geography and Environmental ManagementUniversity of WaterlooCanada
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López-Cepero A, O’Neill HJ, Marrero A, Falcon LM, Tamez M, Rodríguez-Orengo JF, Mattei J. Association between adverse experiences during Hurricane María and mental and emotional distress among adults in Puerto Rico. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 2022; 57:2423-2432. [PMID: 36048184 PMCID: PMC9434507 DOI: 10.1007/s00127-022-02355-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To evaluate the association between adverse experiences during Hurricane María and mental and emotional distress in Puerto Rico. METHODS This cross-sectional study used baseline data from adult (30-75 years) participants of the Puerto Rico Observational Study of Psychosocial, Environmental, and Chronic Disease Trends (PROSPECT). Enrolled individuals prior to COVID-19 who completed a 33-item questionnaire on Hurricane María-related experiences (sub-categorized as personal, service, or property losses), depression symptomatology, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and anxiety were included for analysis (n = 456). RESULTS Most participants experienced fear for their family's safety, damage to their home and personal items, communication outages, and water shortages. Each additional stressor was significantly associated with higher odds of depression symptoms, PTSD, and anxiety. Personal losses were significantly associated with higher likelihood of all outcomes, while services losses were associated with depression symptoms and anxiety; property loss was not significantly associated with any outcome. CONCLUSIONS Adverse experiences during a major natural disaster are associated with mental and emotional distress. Strategies to minimize hardships during natural disasters, especially personal and service losses, are essential to preserve mental health. Post-disaster psychological support to individuals is crucial.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea López-Cepero
- Department of Nutrition, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, 655 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115 USA ,Department of Epidemiology, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA USA
| | - H. June O’Neill
- Department of Nutrition, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, 655 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115 USA
| | - Abrania Marrero
- Department of Nutrition, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, 655 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115 USA
| | - Luis M. Falcon
- College of Fine Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Lowell, MA USA
| | - Martha Tamez
- Department of Nutrition, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, 655 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115 USA
| | - José F. Rodríguez-Orengo
- FDI Clinical Research of Puerto Rico, 988 Luis Muñoz Rivera Ave, San Juan, PR USA ,Department of Biochemistry, University of Puerto Rico-Medical Sciences Campus, Paseo Dr Jose Celso Barbosa, San Juan, PR USA
| | - Josiemer Mattei
- Department of Nutrition, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, 655 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
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Colón-Ramos U, Monge-Rojas R, Weil JG, Olivares G F, Zavala R, Grilo MF, Parra DC, Duran AC. Lessons Learned for Emergency Feeding During Modifications to 11 School Feeding Programs in Latin America and the Caribbean During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Food Nutr Bull 2021; 43:84-103. [PMID: 34894790 DOI: 10.1177/03795721211062371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND School feeding programs (SFPs) can play a crucial role in the emergency food and nutrition response, but there is a dearth of information on how SFPs operate during emergencies. DESIGN AND METHODS A rapid comparative assessment of 11 SFPs throughout Latin America and the Caribbean during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data from (1) systematic document search and (2) surveys with key informants (n = 23) about barriers/facilitators to modifications were systematically analyzed using a multiple case study approach. RESULTS During the pandemic, all SFPs continued (although continuation plans varied from a few days in Chile to >1 month in Puerto Rico) via food kits, food vouchers, and/or grab n' go meals. The SFP implementation was highly dependent on the programs' autonomy and financial support, which impacted their logistics to acquire and distribute foods during the pandemic. The types of foods offered in some SFPs suggest that established nutritional guidelines were not always followed. Key informants expressed concerns about the deterioration of the nutritional quality of foods offered during the pandemic and lack of community engagement that impeded distribution to the neediest. CONCLUSIONS Results underscore the urgency for clear implementation guidance on how to modify SFP during emergencies. Public health implications include (1) allocation of autonomous resources to an intersectoral working group to safeguard nutritional benefits during emergencies, (2) strengthening efforts of SFP community engagement before and during emergencies, and (3) establishing guidelines of the types of foods that can be distributed to meet the nutritional needs of beneficiaries during emergencies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Uriyoán Colón-Ramos
- Department of Global Health, Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Rafael Monge-Rojas
- Costa Rican Institute for Research and Education on Nutrition and Health (INCIENSA), San Jose, Costa Rica
| | | | | | | | - Mariana Fagundes Grilo
- Post Graduate Program in Collective Health, School of Medical Sciences, University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil
| | - Diana C Parra
- Prevention Research Center, Brown School, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Ana Clara Duran
- Center for Food Studies and Research (NEPA), University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil
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Revising "Nutritional Reference Values for Feeding at Evacuation Shelters" According to Nutrition Assistance by Public Health Dietitians Based on Past Major Natural Disasters in Japan: A Qualitative Study. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph181910063. [PMID: 34639364 PMCID: PMC8508193 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph181910063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2021] [Revised: 09/20/2021] [Accepted: 09/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
It is important to provide nutritionally adequate food in shelters to maintain the health of evacuees. Since the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011, Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare has released the “Nutritional Reference Values for Evacuation Shelters” (Reference Values) after every major natural disaster. There is clear evidence, however, that the Reference Values have only been used infrequently. This study aims to revise these guidelines to include the actual situation in the affected areas and the feasibility of the endeavor. This qualitative study uses group interviews with local government dietitians to propose revisions to Japan’s Reference Values. These revisions include the following: issuing Reference Values within 1 week of a disaster, showing one type of values for meal planning for each age group, showing the minimum values of vitamins, upgrading salt to basic components, creating three phases of nutrition (Day 1, Days 1–3, and After Day 4), stipulating food amounts rather than nutrient values, and creating a manual. Local government officials could use the Reference Values as guidelines for choosing food reserves, and dietitians could use them while formulating supplementary nutrition strategies for a model menu in preparation for disasters.
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Capturing Disruptions to Food Availability After Disasters: Assessing the Food Environment Following Hurricanes Florence and María. Disaster Med Public Health Prep 2021; 17:e17. [PMID: 34108072 DOI: 10.1017/dmp.2021.145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to describe the results of food environment assessments completed after Hurricane Florence in North Carolina (2018) and Hurricane María in Puerto Rico (2017), and provide recommendations for assessing disaster food environments. METHODS Adapted structured observation protocols were used to conduct rapid assessments of the availability, price, and quality of specific foods in retail markets. RESULTS In both settings, unhealthful food items (soda, chips, fruit-flavored drinks) and milk were widely available and at lower prices than domestic averages. The adapted instrument in Puerto Rico allowed for documentation of greater availability of canned items compared with fresh or frozen foods. In both settings, researchers noted the inability of the instrument to document items that are important to assess postdisaster: ready-to-heat and ready-to-eat foods; food preparation facilities and supplies; hygiene supplies; and empty shelf-space. CONCLUSIONS The instruments, despite their limitations, were able to capture food availability issues in postdisaster environments. Future instrument adaptation is necessary to capture availability of all major food groups, healthful and unhealthful options, shelf-stable, ready-to-eat, and ready-to-heat foods versus other formats (fresh, frozen), and cooking and hygiene supplies.
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Muhialdin BJ, Filimonau V, Qasem JM, Algboory H. Traditional foodstuffs and household food security in a time of crisis. Appetite 2021; 165:105298. [PMID: 33989697 DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2021.105298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2021] [Revised: 04/19/2021] [Accepted: 04/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Traditional foodstuffs play an important role in household food security. No research has, however, attempted to examine traditional foodstuffs in light of disasters and crises. Such research can provide a useful outlook on how traditional foodstuffs can aid households in a situation of disrupted food supply. This outlook becomes relevant in view of future disastrous events that can undermine household food security, especially in poor disadvantaged communities. This study examined the role of traditional foodstuffs during a major crisis. The study adopted an ethnographic perspective and the method of semi-structured household interviews to explore how traditional foodstuffs were used by communities in the city of Mosul, Iraq, under the ISIS administration and during the liberation war (2016-2017). The study showcased the critical role of traditional foodstuffs in survival of local households. It highlighted the importance of cross-generational knowledge of traditional foodstuffs in community preparedness for disasters and crises. The study proposed to integrate traditional foodstuffs into governmental strategies on household food security in Iraq, and beyond. It suggested including traditional foodstuffs in the humanitarian food supply chains in the regions prone to disasters and crises. Future research should examine the prerequisites for such inclusion, especially from the viewpoint of societal and political acceptance of traditional foodstuffs and methods of their production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Belal J Muhialdin
- Department of Food Science, Faculty of Food Science and Technology, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400, UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia; Halal Products Research Institute, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400, UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
| | - Viachaslau Filimonau
- Faculty of Management, Bournemouth University, Talbot Campus, Fern Barrow, Poole, Dorset, BH12 5BB, UK
| | - Jamal M Qasem
- Agriculture Directorate of Naynawa, Ministry of Agriculture, 41001, Mosul, Nainawa, Iraq
| | - Hussein Algboory
- Faculty of Food Science, Al-Qasim Green University, 51001, Hillah, Babylon, Iraq
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Hassan S, Nguyen M, Buchanan M, Grimshaw A, Adams OP, Hassell T, Ragster L, Nunez-Smith M. Management Of Chronic Noncommunicable Diseases After Natural Disasters In The Caribbean: A Scoping Review. Health Aff (Millwood) 2020; 39:2136-2143. [PMID: 33284688 PMCID: PMC8142319 DOI: 10.1377/hlthaff.2020.01119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Extreme weather events in the Caribbean region are becoming increasingly severe because of climate change. The region also has high rates of poorly controlled chronic noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), which were responsible for at least 30 percent of deaths after two recent hurricanes. We conducted a scoping review of literature published between 1974 and 2020 to understand the burden and management of chronic NCDs in the Caribbean after natural disasters. Of the twenty-nine articles included in this review, most described experiences related to Hurricanes Dorian (2019) and Irma and Maria (2017) and the Haiti earthquake (2010). Challenges included access to medication, acute care services, and appropriate food, as well as communication difficulties and reliance on ad hoc volunteers and outside aid. Mitigating these challenges requires different approaches, including makeshift points of medication dispensing, disease surveillance systems, and chronic disease self-management education programs. Evidence is needed to inform policies to build resilient health systems and integrate NCD management into regional and national disaster preparedness and response plans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saria Hassan
- Saria Hassan is an assistant professor at the Emory School of Medicine and Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, in Atlanta, Georgia. At the time of manuscript submission, she was an instructor of internal medicine at the Yale School of Medicine, Yale University, in New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Mytien Nguyen
- Mytien Nguyen is a student in the MD/PhD program at the Yale School of Medicine
| | - Morgan Buchanan
- Morgan Buchanan is a student in the Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences at the Yale School of Public Health, Yale University
| | - Alyssa Grimshaw
- Alyssa Grimshaw is a clinical research and education librarian in Clinical Information Services at Yale University
| | - Oswald P Adams
- Oswald P. Adams is the dean of the Faculty of Medical Sciences at the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill, in Bridgetown, Barbados
| | - Trevor Hassell
- Trevor Hassell is the president of the Healthy Caribbean Coalition, in Bridgetown, Barbados
| | - LaVerne Ragster
- LaVerne Ragster is a retired professor and president emerita at the University of the Virgin Islands, in St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands
| | - Marcella Nunez-Smith
- Marcella Nunez-Smith is an associate professor of medicine in the Department of Internal Medicine and director of the Equity Research and Innovation Center, both at the Yale School of Medicine
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