Urban-Rural Disparities in Perceived Benefits and Challenges for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)...

Area of Science:

• Nutrition security
• Public health interventions
• Socioeconomic disparities in food access

Background:

• Limited research exists on urban-rural disparities in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participation.
• Understanding these differences is crucial for effective program outreach and support.
• SNAP plays a vital role in food security for low-income families with young children.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate perceived benefits and challenges of SNAP participation in urban versus rural Nebraska households with young children.
• To identify disparities in SNAP reach and identify factors influencing participation.
• To inform targeted interventions for diverse populations.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional study utilizing the SNAP-Ed Needs and Assets Assessment.
• Survey data collected from 1040 low-income families with children aged 6 or younger across Nebraska.
• Analysis included chi-square tests and logistic regression with Benjamini-Hochberg correction.

Main Results:

• Financial need and access to healthy food were key benefits for rural participants; SNAP-Ed participation and peer influence were key for urban participants.
• Rural residents reported greater challenges with application time and effort.
• Urban residents expressed higher concerns regarding language accessibility, customer service, and government dependency.

Conclusions:

• Urban-rural disparities in SNAP participation exist, influenced by distinct perceived benefits and challenges.
• Tailored SNAP-Ed interventions are needed to address geographic and cultural differences.
• Streamlining application processes is essential to improve access and reduce barriers for all participants.