Date of Conferral

11-18-2025

Date of Award

November 2025

Degree

Doctor of Public Health (DrPH)

School

Public Health

Advisor

Jamuir Robinson

Abstract

Abstract Rural African Americans experience a higher prevalence of Type 2 diabetes compared to their White counterparts, yet little research has explored the roles of food insecurity and educational attainment in this disparity. The purpose of this quantitative, correlational study was to examine whether food insecurity and educational attainment were associated with the prevalence of Type 2 diabetes among African Americans aged 18 to 65 years in rural Southern United States, using the World Health Organization’s social determinants of health framework. Data from the 2019-2022 IPUMS National Health Interview Survey (N=793) were analyzed both descriptively and using multiple logistic regression to assess the association between Type 2 diabetes prevalence and food insecurity or educational attainment. Gender, marital status, and age were included in the model as confounders. No statistically significant association was detected between food insecurity and odds of Type 2 diabetes. Although level of educational attainment overall was not statistically significant, logistic regression results indicated that obtaining a college education or higher (OR=0.341, 95% CI=[0.093, 1.245] p=0.036) reduced Type 2 diabetes odds. These findings highlight the potential need for targeted interventions addressing educational attainment to reduce Type 2 diabetes disparities in rural Southern African American communities. The results point to education as a factor that may reduce diabetes risk. Supporting access to college programs, vocational pathways, and local learning resources in rural African American communities may help lessen diabetes disparities and improve health over time.

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