A neighbourhood-level analysis of fruit and vegetable access in Saskatoon’s grocery storesSUGANDHI DEL CANTO, PHD CANDIDATEDEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY HEALTH AND EPIDEMIOLOGYUNIVERSITY OF SASKATCHEWAN

AcknowledgementsSupervisor: Dr. Rachel Engler-StringerThesis committee: Drs. Nazeem Muhajarine, Bonnie Janzen, Sylvia Abonyi

and Scott BellResearch team at Smart Cities, Healthy Kids (Saskatchewan Population Health Research Unit):Tracy RiddallsJoel HeitmarJenn DonlevyDuvaraga Sivajohanathan

Overview1. Introduction to study and Saskatoon2. Objectives3. Methods4. Results5. Conclusions6. Questions and comments

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Study Objectives1. What are the differences in food store

distribution?

2. Are there differences in fruit and vegetable (F/V) access* in grocery stores across neighbourhoods?

◦ Are there differences in F/V access in neighbourhoods with higher populations of Aboriginal people?

* Access = price and availability

Methods60 residential neighbourhoods grouped into high, mid and low SES based on Material and Social Deprivation Index

131 food stores in these neighbourhoods o 24 grocery storeso 92 convenience storeso 15 specialty stores

Nutrition Environment Measurement Survey for Stores (NEMS-S): 10 food categories assessed for price, availability and quality o Fresh and frozen F/V in grocery stores parsed out for further analysis

TABLE 1: Distribution of grocery and convenience stores by neighbourhood-level SES

Neighbourhoods No. of food stores†

No. of grocery stores (% of total food stores)

No. of convenience stores (% of total food stores)

All 131 24 (20.9) 92 (80)

High SES 35 10 (28.6)* 21 (60.0)

Mid SES 41 5 (12.19) 31 (75.6)

Low SES 55 9 (16.4) 40 (72.7) **

†Includes all grocery, convenience and specialty food stores. As such, percentages in the last two columns will not equal 100% *p=0.007**p=0.052

TABLE 2: Fruit and vegetable access Price (F/V) Availability (F/V) Total NEMS-S

SES

High F 1.225 2.681 2.762

r2 0.09 0.054 0.006

Mid F 0.345 5.673 1.554

r2 0.077 0.089 0.015

Low F 6.244* 1.840 1.233

r2 0.343** 0.064 0.032

Aboriginal

T 6.708*** 4.002 3.785*****

r2 0.201**** 0.091 0.391

*p=0.035**p=0.023***p=0.02****p=0.037*****p=0.001

Discussion & ConclusionsNeighbourhoods of lower SES and those with a higher proportion of Aboriginal residents experienced higher prices for F/V.

There is a disproportionately high distribution of convenience stores in lower SES neighbourhoods, characterizing them as food swamps .

Findings confirm previous research that there are inequities experienced by the city’s Aboriginal population.

Study Strengths and Limitations Strengths

All food stores were measured

First study in Saskatoon to measure in-store offerings

Provides a strong base upon which to compare Saskatoon with other Canadian cities

Limitations

Cross-sectional approach misses seasonal variation

Small sample size (n=24 grocery stores)

Limited array of F/V in NEMS-S

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Thank you!FOR FURTHER INQUIRIES:sugandhi.w@gmail.com