Qualitative perspectives of the North Carolina healthy food small retailer program among customers in participating stores located in food deserts.

BACKGROUND: The North Carolina Healthy Food Small Retailer Program (NC HFSRP) was established through a policy passed by the state legislature to provide funding for small food retailers located in food deserts with the goal of increasing access to and sales of healthy foods and beverages among local residents. The purpose of this study was to qualitatively examine perceptions of the NC HFSRP among store customers. METHODS: Qualitative interviews were conducted with 29 customers from five NC HFSRP stores in food deserts across eastern NC. Interview questions were related to shoppers' food and beverage purchases at NC HFSRP stores, whether they had noticed any in-store efforts to promote healthier foods and beverages, their suggestions for promoting healthier foods and beverages, their familiarity with and support of the NC HFSRP, and how their shopping and consumption habits had changed since implementation of the NC HFSRP. A codebook was developed based on deductive (from the interview guide questions) and inductive (emerged from the data) codes and operational definitions. Verbatim transcripts were double-coded and a thematic analysis was conducted based on code frequency, and depth of participant responses for each code. RESULTS: Although very few participants were aware of the NC HFSRP legislation, they recognized changes within the store. Customers noted that the provision of healthier foods and beverages in the store had encouraged them to make healthier purchase and consumption choices. When a description of the NC HFSRP was provided to them, all participants were supportive of the state-funded program. Participants discussed program benefits including improving food access in low-income and/or rural areas and making healthy choices easier for youth and for those most at risk of diet-related chronic diseases. CONCLUSIONS: Findings can inform future healthy corner store initiatives in terms of framing a rationale for funding or policies by focusing on increased food access among vulnerable populations.

Risk perception and usage of non-occupational post-exposure prophylaxis among fisherfolk in Ggulwe parish on the shores of Lake Victoria in central Uganda.

Background: The use of non-occupational post-exposure prophylaxis (nPEP) to prevent HIV acquisition among those exposed as an approach to HIV prevention has expanded in Uganda. Although there are increased efforts to avail nPEP services among most at-risk populations, the usage of nPEP medicines remains low. Therefore, this study examined the risk perception and usage of non-occupational post-exposure prophylaxis (nPEP) among fisherfolk in the Ggulwe fishing parish, Bussi sub-county, Wakiso district. Methods: A cross-sectional study among adults was carried out from October 2020 to January 2021 in Ggulwe parish, Bussi sub-county, Wakiso district, to examine the usage of nPEP and factors influencing the usage. Data were collected using semi-structured questionnaires, and key informants' interviews were conducted among healthcare providers and the local leadership. The quantitative data were summarized using bivariate and multivariate logistic regression, while the qualitative data were analyzed thematically to enrich the quantitative results. Results: Overall, 248 fisherfolk encountered an event that required the use of nPEP, and of these, 55/248 (22.2%) were able to use nPEP to prevent them from acquiring HIV. The usage of nPEP among adults in the Bussi sub-county, Wakiso district, was associated with not knowing that HIV can be prevented using nPEP medicines (AOR:0.1, 95% CI 0.03-0.36, p < 0.001), lack of knowledge of the existence of nPEP (AOR: 0.3, 95% CI 0.13-0.76, p = 0.01), the perception that nPEP can effectively prevent HIV infection after exposure (AOR 0.0586, 95% CI: 0.0177-0.1944, p < 0.001), and the community's opinion affecting the willingness to take nPEP (AOR 0.1924, 95% CI: 0.0380-0.9727, p = 0.0462). Conclusion: The usage of nPEP among fisherfolk was low (22.2%). The low usage of nPEP was associated with a lack of knowledge and awareness about nPEP. This effort to improve the usage of nPEP should include community sensitization and HIV infection prevention using nPEP to raise awareness about HIV infection exposures and the risk of HIV infection during non-occupational exposures.