Food Access, Dietary Intake, and Nutrition Knowledge of Adults on Probation

Objective: To examine food access, dietary intake, and perceptions about diet and associations with health among adults on probation. Design: Using a mixed-methods approach, interviews were used to understand food access, dietary intake, and diet and associations with health. A survey measured self-assessed diet quality and diet and associations with health. Setting: One probation office in Rhode Island. Participants: English-speaking adults on probation in 2016 (n = 22 interviews, n = 304 surveys). Main Outcome Measure(s): Food access, dietary intake, knowledge about diet and health, and perceptions about healthy food. Analysis: We used a thematic analytic approach to analyze the interviews. Descriptive statistics were performed for the survey. Results: Many interviewees had inadequate food access, although most participated in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, and some received food from food banks. Interviewees primarily shopped at grocery stores and prepared food at home, and dietary intakes did not meet the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Almost two-thirds (64.2%) of survey participants reported good or fair diet quality. Based on the survey results, the majority of participants strongly agreed and agreed with the statements, "The types of foods I eat affect my health" and "The types of food I eat affect my weight." Conclusions and Implications: This study identified low-quality dietary intake and food acquisition strategies, such as shopping sales, buying bulk, and going to multiple stores, by US adults on probation to access food with limited resources. Participants reported interest in eating healthier foods and knew there was a connection between dietary intake and health. These data support addressing ways to improve food access and dietary quality, focusing on future programs and policies for this population.