Food insecurity in the Deep South: a qualitative study exploring the lived experience of food insecure adults.
4 affiliations
- 1Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham Heersink School of Medicine, 933 19th Street South, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA. [email protected].
- 2Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham Heersink School of Medicine, 933 19th Street South, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA.
- 3Division of General Internal Medicine and Population Science, University of Alabama at Birmingham Heersink School of Medicine, ALGEN 636, 701 19th Street South , Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA.
- 4Department of Psychology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 924 19th Street South, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA.
Abstract
This qualitative study explored the lived experience of food insecure adults in one region of Alabama, to better understand how structural, economic, and psychosocial factors shape daily food access and health. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 52 adults receiving care by a medical provider who had been referred to a partnering food pantry after being identified as food insecure. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis guided by the Social Ecological Model. Participants described persistent financial strain which often forced tradeoffs between food and household necessities. Many also faced geographic and logistical barriers including residence in food deserts, limited transportation, and difficulty accessing food assistance programs. Food assistance served as important sources of support, but participants often described these resources as inconsistent, difficult to access, or insufficient to meet household needs. Food insecurity was further shaped by cyclical periods of scarcity tied to benefit schedules and that limited access to healthy foods complicated the management of chronic health conditions. To cope with persistent resource constraints, individuals employed a number of strategies to ensure children or other family members had enough to eat. Findings underscore the complex interplay of structural inequities, limited resources, and health burdens that shape food insecurity in the Deep South. This study provides contextual insights that complement quantitative research and highlights the need for interventions that address logistical barriers, improve the consistency and quality of food assistance, and incorporate the psychological and temporal dimensions of food insecurity.
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BibTeX
@article{orihuela2026food,
title = {{Food insecurity in the Deep South: a qualitative study exploring the lived experience of food insecure adults.}},
author = {Catheryn A Orihuela and Joanna Bateman and Brianna Dotson and Lori Brand Bateman and Anna Pyle},
journal = {BMC public health},
year = {2026},
month = aug,
doi = {10.1186/s12889-026-28912-x},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/43009925},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Food insecurity in the Deep South: a qualitative study exploring the lived experience of food insecure adults.
AU - Catheryn A Orihuela
AU - Joanna Bateman
AU - Brianna Dotson
AU - Lori Brand Bateman
AU - Anna Pyle
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/08/14
JO - BMC public health
DO - 10.1186/s12889-026-28912-x
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/43009925
AB - This qualitative study explored the lived experience of food insecure adults in one region of Alabama, to better understand how structural, economic, and psychosocial factors shape daily food access and health. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 52 adults receiving care by a medical provider who had been referred to a partnering food pantry after being identified as food insecure. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis guided by the Social Ecological Model. Participants described persistent financial strain which often forced tradeoffs between food and household necessities. Many also faced geographic and logistical barriers including residence in food deserts, limited transportation, and difficulty accessing food assistance programs. Food assistance served as important sources of support, but participants often described these resources as inconsistent, difficult to access, or insufficient to meet household needs. Food insecurity was further shaped by cyclical periods of scarcity tied to benefit schedules and that limited access to healthy foods complicated the management of chronic health conditions. To cope with persistent resource constraints, individuals employed a number of strategies to ensure children or other family members had enough to eat. Findings underscore the complex interplay of structural inequities, limited resources, and health burdens that shape food insecurity in the Deep South. This study provides contextual insights that complement quantitative research and highlights the need for interventions that address logistical barriers, improve the consistency and quality of food assistance, and incorporate the psychological and temporal dimensions of food insecurity.
SN - 1471-2458
ER -