Food access, self-rated health, and diabetes self-efficacy among prenatal women in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic had a disproportionate impact on racial and ethnic minority populations, resulting in pandemic-related behaviors such as food and water stockpiling (FWS). Consumer FWS behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic posed a demand shock in the food supply chains, affecting access to food by nutritionally vulnerable individuals, particularly prenatal women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). This may pose a negative effect on prenatal women’s confidence in choosing healthy food options to manage their diabetes [diabetes self-efficacy (DSE)] and subjective perception of their health [self-rated health (SRH)], ultimately impacting their health and overall wellbeing. Individuals with poor access to food have a two-fold higher risk of developing diabetes compared to those with secure food access. The first research question, therefore, identified individual, household, and COVID-19-related factors associated with FWS behavior among Blacks and Latinos to identify the potential impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on racial and ethnic minorities. The result shows that females, Latinos, participants concerned about COVID-19, and self-quarantining had significantly higher odds of FWS. Furthermore, Latino and non-Latino Black adults experienced elevated levels of food insecurity, with more than half of them at least having low food security. The second research question helped us to understand how food access affected SRH and DSE among reproductive-age pregnant women with GDM in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. In this study, higher food access was significantly associated with higher DSE and SRH. This study also observed that participants with higher SRH had higher DSE. Findings from the mediation analysis revealed that SRH (COVID-19) mediated the association between food access and DSE among pregnant women with GDM. Overall, this dissertation underscores the impact of the pandemic on marginalized populations, particularly racial/ethnic minorities. It also delves into an understudied yet crucial area of maternal health, which can inform policy decisions regarding food assistance programs, nutrition education initiatives, and healthcare services tailored to the needs of pregnant women with diabetes.
Covid-19, Food Access, Self-rated Health, Diabetes Self-efficacy, Prenatal Women
University of Illinois - Urbana-Champaign
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University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign