Reimold Alexandria E, Hall Marissa G, Ng Shu Wen, Taillie Lindsey Smith, Ribisl Kurt M, Charles Emile L, Golden Shelley D
Department of Health Behavior, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, United States.
Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, United States.
Curr Dev Nutr. 2024 Sep 13;8(10):104457. doi: 10.1016/j.cdnut.2024.104457. eCollection 2024 Oct.
The growing dollar store sector has raised concerns about nutrition and associated health outcomes, especially for low-income communities who disproportionately rely on dollar stores. Perspectives of dollar store shoppers are largely absent.
This study aimed to understand why low-income shoppers choose to purchase food from dollar stores and what store changes, policies, and programs would make it easier for them to purchase healthier items.
In May-June 2023, we conducted interviews with 19 dollar store shoppers in an urban county in North Carolina. We used thematic analysis and the framework method to identify emergent patterns and themes across responses.
Individuals relied on dollar stores because of the affordable prices and convenient locations. In order of frequency, most participants purchased candy and snacks from dollar stores, followed by meat, fruits, and vegetables. Participants wanted more fruits, vegetables, and higher quality proteins at dollar stores and supported policies that increase access to healthier options via increased purchasing power, increased access to a mobile farmers' market, marketing that identifies nutritionally healthy products, and improved access to other store types. Responses to removing unhealthy items from checkout areas were mixed.
Dollar stores are affordable and convenient food retailers for people with low incomes. However, dollar stores are not meeting demand for fruits, vegetables, and proteins, items necessary for food and nutrition security. To improve food access and community health, decision makers should incorporate community perspectives into efforts aimed at improving dollar store food options.
不断发展的一元店行业引发了人们对营养及相关健康结果的担忧，尤其是对于那些过度依赖一元店的低收入社区而言。一元店购物者的观点在很大程度上未被关注。
本研究旨在了解低收入购物者为何选择在一元店购买食品，以及商店的哪些改变、政策和项目能让他们更轻松地购买到更健康的商品。
2023年5月至6月，我们对北卡罗来纳州一个城市县的19位一元店购物者进行了访谈。我们采用主题分析和框架法来识别回答中出现的模式和主题。
人们依赖一元店是因为价格实惠且位置便利。按购买频率排序，大多数参与者在一元店购买糖果和零食，其次是肉类、水果和蔬菜。参与者希望一元店能提供更多水果、蔬菜和更高质量的蛋白质，并支持通过提高购买力、增加移动农贸市场的可达性、标识营养健康产品的营销以及改善其他商店类型的可达性等政策来增加获得更健康选择的机会。对于从收银台区域移除不健康商品的反应不一。
对于低收入人群来说，一元店是价格实惠且便利的食品零售商。然而，一元店并未满足人们对水果、蔬菜和蛋白质的需求，而这些是食品和营养安全所必需的物品。为了改善食品供应和社区健康，决策者应将社区观点纳入旨在改善一元店食品选择的努力中。
