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Title: LIMITED AVAILABILITY IN STORES IN THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI DELTA IMPACTS POTENTIAL FOR NUTRIONAL BEHAVIORAL CHANGE

Author
item HALL, R - ACHRI - DAC
item SIMPSON, P - ACHRI - DAC
item GOOLSBY, S - ACHRI
item GROVES, D - ACHRI
item YADRICK, M - UNIV SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI
item BEARDSHALL, A - UNIV SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI
item CONNELL, C - UNIV SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI
item MCGEE, B - SOUTHERN UNIV AND A&M COL
item THORNTON, A - SOUTHERN UNIV AND A&M COL
item HYMAN, E - UNIV ARKANSAS, PINE BLUFF

Submitted to: International Society for Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/14/2003
Publication Date: 7/19/2003
Citation: HALL, R.A., SIMPSON, P.M., GOOLSBY, S., GROVES, D., YADRICK, M.K., BEARDSHALL, A.E., CONNELL, C., MCGEE, B.B., THORNTON, A., HYMAN, E. LIMITED AVAILABILITY IN STORES IN THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI DELTA IMPACTS POTENTIAL FOR NUTRIONAL BEHAVIORAL CHANGE. International Society for Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity. Quebec, Canada. 2003. p. 35.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Purpose: Food stores were surveyed as one component of a community assessment to provide data for planning sustainable nutritional interventions in the Lower Mississippi Delta (LMD). The purpose of the Food Store Survey (FSS) was to assess the access in food stores to an inclusive list of nutritional foods. Methods: A stratified, random sample of 228 stores (63 supermarkets, 79 medium grocery stores, and 86 convenience stores) was taken from 18 counties in the LMD of Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi. The FSS assessed food store characteristics, food availability, styles and package types, food quality, and food prices of 102 food items, including 67 food items for the USDA Thrifty Food Plan (TFP). Results: On average, only 51.9+/-0.4% of these items were available in the LMD. Supermarkets in the LMD had 96.2+/-0.6% of the TFP fruits and vegetables available. However, five counties (27.8%) had only one or two supermarkets. In medium grocery stores and convenience stores, availability was exceptionally poor (43.4+/-0.9% and 15.6+/-0.8%). Overall, quality of fresh and frozen fruits, vegetables, and meats rated as inadequate. Only dairy was adequate in quality. Merely 49.3+/-1.5% of medium grocery stores and 22.7+/-1.0% of convenience stores were considered to have at least adequate overall quality. Conclusions: The lack of variety and poor quality of nutritional foods in the LMD limits this population's ability to practice recommended dietary behaviors and to improve their nutritional health. Sustainable interventions must combine improved access to nutritious foods with behavior modifications.