Healthy Food Access in Low-Income High-Minority Communities: A Longitudinal Assessment—2009–2017

Punam Ohri-Vachaspati, Robin S. DeWeese, Francesco Acciai, Derek DeLia, David Tulloch, Daoqin Tong, Cori Lorts and Michael J. Yedidia
Additional contact information
Punam Ohri-Vachaspati: College of Health Solutions, Arizona State University, Phoenix, AZ 85004, USA
Robin S. DeWeese: College of Health Solutions, Arizona State University, Phoenix, AZ 85004, USA
Francesco Acciai: College of Health Solutions, Arizona State University, Phoenix, AZ 85004, USA
Derek DeLia: MedStar Health Research Institute, Hyattsville, MD 20782, USA
David Tulloch: Center for Remote Sensing and Spatial Analysis, Department of Landscape Architecture, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA
Daoqin Tong: School of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA
Cori Lorts: Department of Nutrition, Northern Arizona State University, Flagstaff, AZ 86001, USA
Michael J. Yedidia: Center for State Health Policy, Institute for Health, Health Care Policy, & Aging Research, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA

IJERPH, 2019, vol. 16, issue 13, 1-14

Abstract: Disparities in healthy food access are well documented in cross-sectional studies in communities across the United States. However, longitudinal studies examining changes in food environments within various neighborhood contexts are scarce. In a sample of 142 census tracts in four low-income, high-minority cities in New Jersey, United States, we examined the availability of different types of food stores by census tract characteristics over time (2009–2017). Outlets were classified as supermarkets, small grocery stores, convenience stores, and pharmacies using multiple sources of data and a rigorous protocol. Census tracts were categorized by median household income and race/ethnicity of the population each year. Significant declines were observed in convenience store prevalence in lower- and medium-income and majority black tracts ( p for trend: 0.004, 0.031, and 0.006 respectively), while a slight increase was observed in the prevalence of supermarkets in medium-income tracts ( p for trend: 0.059). The decline in prevalence of convenience stores in lower-income and minority neighborhoods is likely attributable to declining incomes in these already poor communities. Compared to non-Hispanic neighborhoods, Hispanic communities had a higher prevalence of small groceries and convenience stores. This higher prevalence of smaller stores, coupled with shopping practices of Hispanic consumers, suggests that efforts to upgrade smaller stores in Hispanic communities may be more sustainable.

Keywords: food environment; food access; low-income communities; supermarket; grocery store; convenience store (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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