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

项目总结/摘要 少数种族/族裔儿童的肥胖差距正在扩大。这些差异可能与 不公平地暴露于食物沼泽环境（即，不健康食品零售的社区 环境淹没了更健康的替代品）。然而，人们对邻里之间的联系机制知之甚少然而，人们对邻里之间的联系机制知之甚少 食物环境对儿童饮食和肥胖的影响。为了填补这一空白，我们提出了一个基于社区的 参与式研究（CBPR）项目，利用混合方法探索食物之间的关系 沼泽环境和父母的食品和饮料购物习惯，种族多样的父母的看法 不健康与健康的食物和饮料的获得，以及年轻人的饮食质量和食物偏好 儿童（2 - 5岁）。在第1阶段，我们将使用解释性序贯混合方法设计并完成 客观评估6个社会经济多样化的哈特福德社区食品环境 社区使用二级数据和初级食品商店审计，然后进行简短访谈， 社区利益相关者征求反馈意见。该项目的这一阶段将导致食物沼泽的水平 暴露分数和地理信息系统地图在人口普查区块组一级。在第二阶段，我们将调查种族多样性 父母（n = 300）与幼儿，以评估他们的食品和饮料购物习惯，家庭食品 环境，儿童食物和饮料的偏好和摄入量，以及父母对他们食物的看法 环境，以及他们对政策，系统和环境（PSE）战略的支持程度，以减轻 少数民族儿童的饮食差异。然后，将定量调查的主要结果放在背景中 数据，我们将与幼儿的父母（n = 40）进行焦点小组讨论，然后应用小说 混合方法GIS制图技术。我们将采用收敛混合方法， 使用联合显示器一起分析/解释第2阶段定量和定性数据。最后阶段 （第3阶段）涉及从第1阶段和第2阶段的研究结果中汲取经验，共同开发基于社区的 PSE干预试验与社区咨询委员会。我们将征求对干预计划草案的反馈意见 来自居民父母（N = 20）通过焦点小组。拟议的研究将提高我们对 邻域因子（即，食物获取）作为幼儿饮食不平等的决定因素。K01奖项 将使库克西·斯托尔斯博士获得必要的培训和指导， 一个独立的健康公平研究项目，整合了CBPR、GIS、混合方法和干预措施 发展（即，PSE战略）。这项工作的结果将告知PI未来的R01应用程序重点 实施基于社区的随机对照试验，测试针对社区食物的PSE干预措施 环境该K01奖项还将允许PI获得培训和指导，以开发独特的， 独立的研究计划，整合CBPR，营养差异，地理空间分析技术， 混合方法，最终减轻幼儿中与饮食有关的健康不平等。

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.