Are Food Swamps Linked to Disparities in Ethnically Diverse Parents' Food Shopping Behaviors & Young Children's Diets?: Implications for Policy & Environmental Interventions

Project Summary/Abstract Obesity disparities among racial/ethnic minority children are widening. These disparities may berelated to inequitable exposure to food swamp environments (i.e., neighborhoods where unhealthy food retail environments inundate healthier alternatives). Yet, little is known about themechanisms linking neighborhood

food environments to child diet and obesity disparities. To fill this gap, we propose a community-based participatory research (CBPR) project utilizing mixed methods to explore the relationships between food swamp environments and parents' food and beverage shopping habits, ethnically diverse parents' perceptions

of unhealthy vs. healthy food and beverage access, and diet quality and food preferences among young children (ages 2- 5). In phase 1, we will use an explanatory sequential mixed methods design and complete objective assessments of neighborhood food environments in 6 socioeconomically diverse Hartford

communities using both secondary data and primary food store audits followed by short interviews with community stakeholders to solicit feedback. This phase of the project will result in level of food swamp exposure scores and GIS maps at the census block group-level. In phase 2, we will survey ethnically diverse

parents (n=300) with young children to assess their food and beverage shopping habits, the home food environment, child food and beverage preferences and intake, plus parents' perceptions of their food environment, and their level of support for Policy, Systems, and Environmental (PSE) strategies to alleviate

dietary disparities among ethnic-minority children. Then, to contextualize key findings from quantitative survey data, we will conduct focus groups with parents (n=40) of young children followed by theapplication of novel mixed-methods GIS mapping techniques. We will take a convergent mixed methods approach and

analyze/interpret Phase 2 quantitative and qualitative data together using joint displays. The final phase (Phase 3) involves drawing from Phase 1 and 2 findings to co-develop a community based PSE intervention trial with a Community Advisory Board. We will solicit feedback on the draft intervention plan

from resident parents (N=20) via focus groups. The proposed research will improve our understanding of neighborhood factors (i.e., food access) as determinants of early childhood dietary inequities. This K01 award will allow Dr. Cooksey Stowers to obtain the necessary training and mentorship to develop a unique,

independent health equity research program that integrates CBPR, GIS, Mixed Methods, and Intervention Development (i.e., PSE strategies). Findings from this work will inform the PI's future R01 application focused on implementing a community based RCT testing a PSE intervention targeting the neighborhood food

environment. This K01 award will also allow the PI to obtain training and mentorship to develop a unique, independent research program that integrates CBPR, nutrition disparities, geospatial analytic techniques, and mixed methods with the ultimate of alleviating diet-related health inequities among young children.