Program in Nutrition, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Brazil.
Program in Food, Nutrition and Health, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
J Biosoc Sci. 2024 May;56(3):493-503. doi: 10.1017/S0021932024000087. Epub 2024 Feb 28.
This study identified food deserts and swamps, investigating their associations with socioeconomic and demographic conditions. This ecological study was conducted using data from urban census tracts in the city of Recife, which were considered the unit of analysis. Information on food retail was obtained from government sources in 2019. Census tracts below the 25th percentile in the density of healthy food retail (i.e., those that predominantly sell natural or minimally processed foods, mixed businesses, and super- and hypermarkets) were classified as food deserts. Census tracts above the 25th percentile in the density of unhealthy food retail (i.e., those selling primarily ultra-processed foods) were considered food swamps. The socioeconomic and demographic conditions of the census tracts were evaluated using variables from the 2010 census (per capita income, average income, race, literacy of the head of household, and the availability of essential services) and the Health Vulnerability Index. Census tracts considered food deserts (28.5%) were more vulnerable, characterized by lower income and access to essential services, more illiterate residents and more minorities (Black/Indigenous/mixed race). Food swamps (73.47%) were more prevalent in less vulnerable neighbourhoods characterized by higher percentages of literate residents and Whites, greater purchasing power, and better basic sanitation. The characteristics of Recife's food deserts and swamps demonstrate social inequalities in the food environment. Public facilities could play a vital role in promoting healthy eating within food deserts. Additionally, future implementation of taxes on ultra-processed foods and the provision of tax subsidies to natural or minimally processed food sellers might contribute to fostering healthier dietary choices.
本研究确定了食物荒漠和沼泽，并调查了它们与社会经济和人口统计条件的关联。这项生态研究使用了累西腓市城市普查区的数据，这些普查区被视为分析单位。2019 年，从政府来源获取了有关食品零售的信息。健康食品零售密度低于第 25 百分位数（即主要销售天然或最低限度加工食品、混合企业以及超级市场和大型超市）的普查区被归类为食物荒漠。不健康食品零售密度高于第 25 百分位数（即主要销售超加工食品）的普查区被视为食物沼泽。使用 2010 年普查（人均收入、平均收入、种族、家庭主妇的文化程度和基本服务的可用性）和健康脆弱性指数中的变量评估了普查区的社会经济和人口统计条件。被认为是食物荒漠的普查区（28.5%）更为脆弱，其特点是收入较低，获得基本服务的机会较少，居民文化程度较低，少数族裔（黑/土著/混血）较多。食物沼泽（73.47%）更为普遍，分布在脆弱性较低的社区，这些社区的特点是文化程度较高的居民和白人比例较高、购买力更强，以及基本卫生条件更好。累西腓市食物荒漠和沼泽的特征表明，食物环境中存在社会不平等现象。公共设施在促进食物荒漠地区的健康饮食方面可以发挥重要作用。此外，未来对超加工食品征收税收并对天然或最低限度加工食品销售商提供税收补贴，可能有助于促进更健康的饮食选择。
