Disaster Management and School Nutrition: A Qualitative Study of Emergency Feeding During the COVID-19 Pandemic.
COVID-19 pandemic
Emergency preparedness
Emergency response
Qualitative research
School meal programs
Journal
Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
ISSN: 2212-2672
Titre abrégé: J Acad Nutr Diet
Pays: United States
ID NLM: 101573920
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
08 2021
08 2021
Historique:
received:
30
09
2020
revised:
15
03
2021
accepted:
06
04
2021
pubmed:
18
5
2021
medline:
3
8
2021
entrez:
17
5
2021
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
School nutrition programs mitigate child food insecurity across the United States. With the onset of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, kindergarten through grade 12 physical school campuses closed, which led to those programs transitioning to emergency feeding. The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction has 4 action priorities that guided the assessment of school nutrition employees' emergency response during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our aim was to explore the experience of school nutrition employees as they provided emergency feeding services during the COVID-19 pandemic and evaluate their actions based on the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction . A qualitative study with semi-structured interviews (n = 34) was conducted via videoconferencing software. A purposive sample of school nutrition employees across all 7 US Department of Agriculture regions who were involved in the COVID-19 emergency feeding response participated during April and May 2020. School nutrition employees were selected randomly for participation from those indicating willingness to be interviewed during their participation in a related survey. Recruitment continued until all 7 US Department of Agriculture regions were represented. Participants held various roles, ranging from state agency leaders to front-line supervisors, although most were district-level directors or assistant directors. Data were analyzed using a phenomenological qualitative analytic approach. Four themes emerged. First, participants described the progression of the initial shock associated with the pandemic and service disruption, the flexibility they practiced, and the development of new routines. Second, keeping people (children, coworkers, and the community) safe was highlighted. The next theme captured participants' feeling that they came "out of the shadows" as communities and stakeholders recognized their important contribution to children's food security. Finally, they shared insight on communication and accountability during the emergency feeding response. These programs demonstrated flexibility, resilience, and commitment to children during this crisis. As the pandemic continues and future disasters are considered, school nutrition programs and leaders can use the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction's "build back better" concept to refine disaster preparedness plans and advocate for changes that will continue to combat child food insecurity in the United States.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
School nutrition programs mitigate child food insecurity across the United States. With the onset of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, kindergarten through grade 12 physical school campuses closed, which led to those programs transitioning to emergency feeding. The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction has 4 action priorities that guided the assessment of school nutrition employees' emergency response during the COVID-19 pandemic.
OBJECTIVE
Our aim was to explore the experience of school nutrition employees as they provided emergency feeding services during the COVID-19 pandemic and evaluate their actions based on the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction .
DESIGN
A qualitative study with semi-structured interviews (n = 34) was conducted via videoconferencing software. A purposive sample of school nutrition employees across all 7 US Department of Agriculture regions who were involved in the COVID-19 emergency feeding response participated during April and May 2020.
PARTICIPANTS/SETTING
School nutrition employees were selected randomly for participation from those indicating willingness to be interviewed during their participation in a related survey. Recruitment continued until all 7 US Department of Agriculture regions were represented. Participants held various roles, ranging from state agency leaders to front-line supervisors, although most were district-level directors or assistant directors.
ANALYSIS
Data were analyzed using a phenomenological qualitative analytic approach.
RESULTS
Four themes emerged. First, participants described the progression of the initial shock associated with the pandemic and service disruption, the flexibility they practiced, and the development of new routines. Second, keeping people (children, coworkers, and the community) safe was highlighted. The next theme captured participants' feeling that they came "out of the shadows" as communities and stakeholders recognized their important contribution to children's food security. Finally, they shared insight on communication and accountability during the emergency feeding response.
CONCLUSIONS
These programs demonstrated flexibility, resilience, and commitment to children during this crisis. As the pandemic continues and future disasters are considered, school nutrition programs and leaders can use the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction's "build back better" concept to refine disaster preparedness plans and advocate for changes that will continue to combat child food insecurity in the United States.
Identifiants
pubmed: 33994141
pii: S2212-2672(21)00240-9
doi: 10.1016/j.jand.2021.04.012
pii:
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
1441-1453Informations de copyright
Copyright © 2021. Published by Elsevier Inc.