College of Health Sciences, Arcadia University, Glenside, PA 19038, USA.
Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA.
Nutrients. 2021 Oct 28;13(11):3845. doi: 10.3390/nu13113845.
In the U.S., preterm birth disproportionately impacts certain racial/ethnic groups, with Black women experiencing preterm birth at a rate 50% higher than other groups. Among the numerous factors that likely contribute to these increased rates are neighborhood characteristics, such as food environment. In this mixed-methods case study, we evaluated how pregnant women living in a predominately minority, lower income community with high preterm birth rates navigate and perceive their food environment. Qualitative interviews were performed to assess perceptions of food environment ( = 7) along with geographic and observational assessments of their food environment. Participants traveled an average of 2.10 miles (SD = 1.16) and shopped at an average of 3 stores. They emphasized the importance of pricing and convenience when considering where to shop and asserted that they sought out healthier foods they thought would enhance their pregnancy health. Observational assessments of stores' nutrition environment showed that stores with lower nutritional scores were in neighborhoods with greater poverty and a higher percent Black population. Future policies and programmatic efforts should focus on improving nutrition during pregnancy for women living in communities with high rates of poor birth outcomes. Availability, affordability, and accessibility are key aspects of the food environment to consider when attempting to achieve birth equity.
在美国，早产的比例在不同种族/族裔群体之间存在差异，黑人女性的早产率比其他群体高 50%。在导致这些早产率上升的众多因素中，可能包括社区特征，如食品环境。在这项混合方法的案例研究中，我们评估了生活在早产率高、以少数族裔和低收入为主的社区中的孕妇如何应对和感知她们的食品环境。进行了定性访谈，以评估她们对食品环境的看法（=7），并对她们的食品环境进行了地理和观察评估。参与者平均出行 2.10 英里（SD=1.16），平均光顾 3 家商店。他们强调在考虑购物地点时要考虑价格和便利性，并表示他们会寻找他们认为有助于提高怀孕健康的更健康的食物。对商店营养环境的观察评估表明，营养得分较低的商店位于贫困程度更高、黑人人口比例更高的社区。未来的政策和项目努力应集中于改善生活在高不良生育结局社区中的妇女的孕期营养。在试图实现生育公平时，可用性、可负担性和可及性是食品环境的关键方面。
