The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #42843

Mariana M. Chilton, PhD, MPH¹, Eileen G. Ford, MS, RD², Mary K. O'Brien, PhD¹, and Lorraine E. Matthews, MS, RD³. (1) School of Public Health, MCP Hahnemann University, 245 N.15th Street/Mailstop 660, Philadelphia, PA 19102, (215) 762-6512, Mariana.M.Chilton@drexel.edu, (2) Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Drexel University, 3141 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, (3) Division of Early Childhood, Youth and Women's Health, Philadelphia Department of Public Health, 1101 Market Street, 9th Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19107

As the health and human rights movement gathers momentum, few researchers have sought to investigate lay terminology and perspectives on basic human rights such as right to housing and right to food. This presentation will discuss pilot data that investigates the nutritional status of female food cupboard users, and explores problems and barriers specific to women in obtaining, preparing and eating nutritionally adequate food; investigates how women characterize the relationship between food, nutrition, and health; and explores women’s perceptions of the notion of “the right to food.” The purpose of such interdisciplinary research is to begin to delineate connections between health status and human rights from the perspective of community members. Indeed, this project seeks to put the public back into public health by ensuring that women’s perspectives on the experience of food insecurity and impressions on human rights are an integral part of the formal discussion on hunger in urban contexts. Usually, health and human rights research focuses on HIV/AIDS issues in international contexts. This study is one of the first of its kind because it is a quantitative and qualitative exploration into the experience of food insecurity and nutritional status as a human rights issue in the United States. Understanding the lay terminology of the women will also help to ground the current discussion on public health ethics and human rights, and will provide important background for those health educators who seek to enhance current nutrition education efforts.

Learning Objectives:

• At the conclusion of this session, the participant will be able to
• 1) Articulate the extent of emergency food system participation in Philadelphia.
• 2) Discuss interdisciplinary methodology used to assess the association between health and human rights.
• 3) Assess lay perspectives on the struggles of being food insecure, the relationship between food and health, and the basic human right to food.

Keywords: Food Security, Human Rights

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.