Design of an intervention on the food environment in an urban Brazilian area with high social vulnerability
Abstract
Background: interventions in the food environment, integrating actions to increase healthy food availability and consumers’ nutritional education at the time of purchase, have shown promising results in the United States but... [ view full abstract ]
Background: interventions in the food environment, integrating actions to increase healthy food availability and consumers’ nutritional education at the time of purchase, have shown promising results in the United States but these methods have not been extensively tested in low- or middle-income countries.
Aim: describe the development of an environmental intervention pilot project, aiming to increase access to healthy foods, focusing on small food stores in an urban area of high social vulnerability.
Methods: Using a quasi-experimental design, we developed the intervention integrating data collected in formative research, including quantitative data from a population survey and qualitative data collected in the 24-months period of engagement activities in the community; in-depth interviews with key informants of consumers (n =8) and store owners (n=5); community workshops (n=2) and extensive field work to identify and recruit small food stores in the study areas.
Results: the on-going study was designed to measure the impact of environmental an intervention on availability, sales, purchasing, preparation methods and intake of healthy food, comparing pre- and post-intervention changes between study and control groups (n=6 stores and n=120 consumers, in each group). Intervention actions include interaction with consumers inside the stores for cooking demonstrations, taste sessions, flyers and giveaway distribution; store owners training and the use of financial incentive to stock healthy food. We used formative research to choose 12 foods promoted in a two week period each one, organized in three thematic phases: healthy snacks, healthy meals easy to prepare and whole grains.
Conclusion: community stakeholders were heard and their concerns and wishes in relation to access to food were considered when planning the intervention phases, including foods that will be promoted. The process showed the importance of participatory research and the use of qualitative combined with quantitative methods of formative research for a realistic study design.
Authors
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Paula Martins
(Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP))
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Maria Oliveira
(Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP))
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Lucas Sanches
(Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP))
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Renata Lopes
(Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP))
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Matheus Melzer
(Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP))
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Semiramis Domene
(Federal University of Minas Gerais - UFMG,)
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Joel Gittelsohn
(Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health)
Topic Area
VI. Research and action 6.1 Collaboration; interaction of researchers; stakeholders 6.2 S
Session
LMIC-O-01 » LMIC Lessons Learned - Strategies for Community Engagement (15:00 - Sunday, 3rd April, TBA)
Paper
ICUH2016_Martins_et_Al.docx
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