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.
