Perceived quality and availability of fruit and vegetables are associated with perceptions of fruit and vegetable affordability among socio-economically disadvantaged women.
OBJECTIVE
Perceptions that fruit and vegetables are expensive have been found to be associated with lower consumption of fruit and vegetables among disadvantaged women; however, the determinants of these perceptions are relatively unknown. The purpose of the current paper is to examine whether perceived availability and quality of fruit and vegetables, and social support for healthy eating, are associated with perceptions of fruit and vegetable affordability among women residing in disadvantaged neighbourhoods.


METHODS
Cross-sectional self-report survey.


METHODS
The study was conducted in Melbourne, Australia.


METHODS
An Australian sample of 4131 women, aged 18-45 years, residing in neighbourhoods ranked in the lowest Victorian tertile of relative disadvantage by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, an index that considers aspects of disadvantage such as residents' income, education, motor vehicle access and employment.


RESULTS
Results showed that irrespective of education, income and other key covariates, women who perceived poor availability and quality of fruit and vegetables in their local neighbourhood were more likely to perceive fruit and vegetables as expensive.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest that perceptions of fruit and vegetable affordability are not driven exclusively by lack of financial or knowledge-related resources, but also by women's psychological response and interpretation of their local nutrition environment.
Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition Research, School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, 221 Burwood Highway, Burwood, Victoria 3125, Australia. Lauren.Williams@deakin.edu.au
Lauren K
LK
Williams
Lukar
L
Thornton
David
D
Crawford
Kylie
K
Ball
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D063427:Food Quality; D005523:Food Supply / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D058870:Food, Organic; D005638:Fruit / Q000191:economics*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014675:Vegetables / Q000191:economics*; D014739:Victoria; D055815:Young Adult