Addressing Knowledge Regarding Food Insecurity Among College Students

Jerry Aneke, MPH (c); Aleka Arredondo, MPH (c); Suborna Bhattacharjee, MPH (c); Anabel Castaneda, MPH (c); Niani Coker, MPH (c); Farhan Danish, MPH ©
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SCIENCE AND HUMAN ECOLOGY - CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, SAN BERNARDINO

"Knowledge is food for the mind, without food for the body, learning is impossible." - Charles Obershaw

Abstract Methods Post-Survey Results

● A pre- and post-survey was developed and disseminated to
Strengths and Limitations
Introduction: Studies show that 42% of CSU students and Strengths
23% of CSUSB (California State University, San 27 college students from an undergraduate Health Science
class at California State University, San Bernardino (CSUSB). ● Our pre- and post- survey addressed food insecurity
Bernardino) students face food insecurity. ● Cost effective study
Objective: To understand the impact of our food insecurity public The pre-survey -- addressing knowledge, attitude, and
practices regarding food insecurity and highlight The DEN as Limitations
service announcement (PSA), which highlights The DEN Food Figure 6. Practices
● Sample size and selection bias since the survey was only
Pantry, on the knowledge, attitude, and practice of college a campus resource -- was administered prior to showing a associated with visiting
public service announcement (PSA). A post-survey was The DEN prior to viewing disseminated to one undergraduate health science class.
students at CSUSB regarding food insecurity. the PSA and plans to visit ● The language of the post-survey questions did not directly
Methods: A pre- and post-survey addressing knowledge, attitude administered immediately after the PSA. The DEN afterward.
● Analysis was conducted using SPSS version 24. correlate with the pre-survey questions and left room for
and practices concerning food insecurity was developed and given researcher interpretation of the results. Results of the pre-
to 27 college students from an undergraduate Health Science and post-survey did not show significant impact from having
class at CSUSB, The pre-survey was administered to the students
before watching the PSA and the post-survey was administered
Pre-Survey Results watched the PSA
after the survey. Figure 1. Knowledge of services provided by the DEN.
Results: When comparing pre- and post-test questions by using
McNemar’s, Chi-Square, and Fisher Exact test, the questions on
knowledge were greater than the p value of .05 resulting in
The pre-survey data
insignificant data. Our p-value was 0.815, so our results were not
significant.
demonstrated that the
study participants
Chi-Square Tests
Conclusion/Recommendations
Strengths/Limitations: Some strengths in our study are that our increased in
knowledge of the
Value df Asymptotic Exact Sig. Exact Sig.
● It is clear that food insecurity shapes the personal and academic
pre- and post-survey questions address food insecurity. Some services provided by
Significance (2-sided) (1-sided)
progress of CSU students; efforts to increase support and
limitations include sample size, selection bias and interpretation The DEN associated
(2-sided)
resources for students’ who face food insecurity to increase
bias. with an increase in Pearson Chi-Square .055a 1 .815
holistic student success are necessary.
their time spent as a
Conclusions: Possible barriers to student use of The DEN include student at CSUSB. Continuity Correctionb .000 1 1.000 ● Barriers that impact CSUSB student’s utilization of The DEN
stigma. While the pre- and post survey questions were effective in include stigmas associated with food insecurity and lack of
addressing knowledge, attitude, and practice concerning food Likelihood Ratio .057 1 .812
knowledge of available resources at CSUSB.
insecurity, they were not effective in assessing the effectiveness of Fisher's Exact Test 1.000 .657 ● The PSA was developed as an intervention with the goal of
the PSA. increasing the knowledge about the need for a healthy diet and
Introduction
Linear-by-Linear .053 1 .819
Figure 2. Knowledge of services provided by the DEN. the food insecurity that impacts CSUSB student; address the
Association
Knowledge of services of the DEN
stigma associated with utilizing services and resources; and
● Food insecurity is defined by Healthy People 2020 as the McNemar Test .001c
encouraging the increase of visitation and utilization of services
disruption of food intake or eating patterns due to lack of money
Frequency Percent Valid Cumulative

offered by The DEN.

Percent Percent
N of Valid Cases 25
and other resources.
● Our pre- and post-survey addressed knowledge, attitude and
● 42% of CSU students and 23% of CSUSB (California State a. 3 cells (75.0%) have expected count less than 5. The minimum expected count is 1.20.
practices regarding healthy eating, food insecurity and campus
Valid Very 2 8.0 8.0 8.0

University, San Bernardino) students report experiencing food Somewhat 8 32.0 32.0 40.0
Prior to the administration of the
b. Computed only for a 2x2 table
resources however, the language utilized did not provide strong
insecurity. PSA, 44% of the respondents had c. Binomial distribution used. data that converted whether the PSA intervention was effective.
● A January 2018 report published by the CSU Chancellor’s Office no knowledge about the
Hardly 4 16.0 16.0 56.0
● Target strategies are needed to address the student populations
highlighted food insecurity and homelessness as two primary services provided by The DEN at
Not 11 44.0 44.0 100.0
CSUSB. Figure 7. Chi-Square Test that reported the highest levels such as first-year students.
factors impacting student success. The overall trending characteristics concluded significant results based on the ● Longitudinal research can help determine educational,
● Chronic hunger/malnutrition can cause both cognitive and Total 25 100.0 100.0
post-survey question number 27 as shown in the figure 7.
professional, health and personal outcomes for students beyond
physical fatigue and many CSUSB students are unable to
today to increase student academic success rates.
perform to their academic potential. Figure 3. Use of Assistance Programs.
● There is a need to identify and institute campaigns to develop a
● By addressing the knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding Uncomfortable with Assistance Programs
campus culture of awareness and response to support students
food insecurity on our campus, we can help eliminate a barrier to Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
who experience food insecurity.
student success.
24% and 32% of the
● Our public service announcement (PSA) aims to increase
Valid Yes 6 24.0 24.0 24.0

respondents reported being

awareness on the impact of food insecurity and also share a uncomfortable with accessing
No 11 44.0 44.0 68.0

References
campus resource, The Obershaw DEN Food Pantry (The DEN), assistance programs. Maybe 8 32.0 32.0 100.0

California State University, San Bernardino. (2017). Facts and Stats.

and to reduce the stigma associated with food insecurity. Total 25 100.0 100.0 Retrieved from
https://www.csusb.edu/about-csusb/facts-and-stats
Purpose Statement Significance of Intervention: Level of Food Insecurity
Figure 4. Using the services of the DEN prior to the administration of the PSA Crutchfield, R. & Maguire, J. (2018). California State University Office of the
What is the impact of a food insecurity public service Have you visited the DEN at CSUSB? Chancellor Study of Student Basic Needs. Retrieved from
announcement, highlighting The DEN Food Pantry, https://www2.calstate.edu/impact-of-the-csu/student-success/basi
c-needs-initiative/Docments/BasicNeedsStudy_phaseII_withAccessibility
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent

on the knowledge, attitude, and practices of college Comments.pdf

students at California State University, San
Valid Yes 6 24.0 24.0 24.0
76% of the respondents had
not visited The DEN at CSUSB
Bernardino (CSUSB)?
No 19 76.0 76.0 100.0

Total 25 100.0 100.0

prior to the PSA.
Figure 5:
Population Demographics
The demographic information
on the level of education
resulted in 8% second-year
students, 28% third- and
fourth-year students, and 36%
of the group were students
who have been at CSUSB for
4+ years.
Acknowledgements
We wish to thank the following parties for their support and
collaborations:
● Sen Padilla, MPH, DrPH(c)
● Salome Mshigeni, PhD, MPH, MPA
● Monideepa Becerra, DrPH, MPH, CHES
● The Obershaw DEN Food Pantry
● Department of Health Science and Human Ecology
Figure 8.
After the PSA, both students who experienced an inability to afford balanced meals
and students who had not experiences this inability, agreed they were likely
participate in nutrition education services if they were offered.

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Chi-Square Tests
Valuedf Asymptotic
Significance (2-sided)
Pearson Chi-Square 9.758a
9 .370
Likelihood Ratio 10.841 9
.287
Linear-by-Linear Association .029
1 .864
McNemar-Bowker Test .
.b
N of Valid Cases 25
a 16 cells (100.0%) have expected
count less than 5. The minimum
expected count is .16.
b Both variables must have
identical values of categories.

Knowledge of services of the DEN

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent

Valid Very 2 8.0 8.0 8.0

Somewhat 8 32.0 32.0 40.0

Hardly 4 16.0 16.0 56.0

Not 11 44.0 44.0 100.0

Total 25 100.0 100.0

Do you plan to visit The DEN at CSUSB?

Frequenc Percent Valid Cumulative

y Percent Percent

Vali Yes 20 80.0 80.0 80.0

d
No 5 20.0 20.0 100.0

Uncomfortable with Assistance Programs Tot 25 100.0 100.0

al

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent

Valid Yes 6 24.0 24.0 24.0

No 11 44.0 44.0 68.0

Maybe 8 32.0 32.0 100.0

Total 25 100.0 100.0

Have you visted DEN at CSUSB?

Frequenc Percent Valid Cumulative

y Percent Percent

Vali Yes 6 24.0 24.0 24.0

d
No 19 76.0 76.0 100.0

Tot 25 100.0 100.0

al

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