Does living in a disadvantaged area mean fewer opportunities to purchase fresh fruit and vegetables in the area? Findings from the Brisbane food study.
Understanding the particularly low intake of fruits and vegetables among socioeconomically disadvantaged groups is an important issue for public health. This study investigated whether access to retail outlets is similar across areas of varying socioeconomic disadvantage in an Australian urban setting, in terms of distance, the numbers of local shops, and their opening hours. This ecological cross-sectional study used 50 randomly sampled census collection districts and their nearby shopping environment (i.e. within 2.5 km), and generally found minimal or no socioeconomic differences in shopping infrastructure. Important methodological and social/economic issues may explain this contrast with overseas findings.
Centre for Health Research, Public Health, School of Public Health, Queensland University of Technology, Victoria Park Road, Kelvin Grove, Brisbane, Qld 4059, Australia. e.winkler@qut.edu.au
Elisabeth
E
Winkler
Gavin
G
Turrell
Carla
C
Patterson
D003132:Commerce; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005638:Fruit / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D006801:Humans; D011204:Poverty Areas; D011793:Queensland; D014675:Vegetables / Q000600:supply & distribution*