Exploring the Relationship Between SNAP Enrollment and Food Insecurity in Rural Appalachia

This study explores the relationship between food security status and SNAP enrollment among adults in one rural Appalachian county. This cross-sectional analysis represents one wave of a prospective cohort study. Data were collected via telephone October 2020-January 2021 to assess nutrition assistance use and food security status. There was a significant association between degree of food security and SNAP enrollment status (p < .01) with SNAP and SNAP-eligible participants experiencing higher rates of food insecurity in this persistent poverty county. Findings highlight the importance of designing tailored interventions to address food inequities among rural, low-income populations.