Caregiver Perceptions of Environmental Facilitators and Barriers to Healthy Eating and Active Living during the Summer: Results from the Project SWEAT Sub-Study

Laura C. Hopkins, Amy R. Sharn, Daniel Remley, Heather Schier, Regan Olak, Dorsena Drakeford, Cara Pannell and Carolyn Gunther
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Laura C. Hopkins: Department of Public Health and Prevention Sciences, College of Education and Health Sciences, Baldwin Wallace University, 328D Malicky Center, 275 Eastland Road, Berea, OH 44017, USA
Amy R. Sharn: Department of Human Sciences, The Ohio State University, Human Nutrition Program, Campbell Hall, 1787 Neil Avenue, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
Daniel Remley: Family and Consumer Sciences, The Ohio State University, OSU Extension, 1864 Shyville Road, Piketon, OH 45661, USA
Heather Schier: Department of Human Sciences, The Ohio State University, Human Nutrition Program, Campbell Hall, 1787 Neil Avenue, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
Regan Olak: Department of Public Health and Prevention Sciences, College of Education and Health Sciences, Baldwin Wallace University, 328D Malicky Center, 275 Eastland Road, Berea, OH 44017, USA
Dorsena Drakeford: Department of Public Health and Prevention Sciences, College of Education and Health Sciences, Baldwin Wallace University, 328D Malicky Center, 275 Eastland Road, Berea, OH 44017, USA
Cara Pannell: Department of Human Sciences, The Ohio State University, Human Nutrition Program, Campbell Hall, 1787 Neil Avenue, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
Carolyn Gunther: Department of Human Sciences, The Ohio State University, Human Nutrition Program, Campbell Hall, 1787 Neil Avenue, Columbus, OH 43210, USA

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 21, 1-15

Abstract: Objective: The aim of this study was to examine caregiver perceptions of summertime neighborhood-level environmental barriers and facilitators to healthy eating and active living in their elementary-age racial minority children. Methods: Caregivers with students in the prekindergarten–fifth grade were recruited from two schools located in low-income urban neighborhoods of Columbus, OH, with a predominantly Black population. Participants engaged in the research portion of the Healthy Eating Active Living: Mapping Attribute using Participatory Photographic Surveys (HEALth MAPPS TM ) protocol, which included (1) orientation; (2) photographing and geotagging facilitators and barriers to HEALth on daily routes; (3) in-depth interview (IDI) discussing images and routes taken; (4) focus groups (FG). IDIs and FGs were transcribed verbatim. Analyses were guided by grounded theory and interpretive phenomenology and were coded by researchers ( n = 3), who used comparative analysis to develop a codebook and determine major themes. Results: A total of 10 caregivers enrolled and 9 completed the IDIs. Five caregivers participated in focus groups. A majority (77.8%, n = 7) of caregivers identified as Black, female (88.9%, n = 8), and low income (55.6%, n = 5). IDI and FG themes included (1) walkway infrastructure crucial for healthy eating and active living; (2) scarce accessibility to healthy, affordable foods; (3) multiple abandoned properties; (4) unsafe activity near common neighborhood routes. Conclusions: Caregivers perceived multiple neighborhood-level barriers to healthy eating and activity during the summer months when school is closed. Findings from this study provide initial insights into environmental determinants of unhealthy summer weight gain in a sample of predominantly racial minority school-age children from low-income households.

Keywords: summer; food environment; physical activity environment; qualitative (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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