title: Understanding the local food environment: A participatory photovoice project in a low-income area in Madrid, Spain.
abstract: There is a need to partner between researchers, practitioners and residents to increase our understanding of environmental influences on dietary behaviors. We used the participatory method of Photovoice to understand key determinants of the local food environment influencing residents' diets. This project was conducted in Villaverde, a low-income area located in Madrid, Spain. From February to May 2015, 24 residents working in four Photovoice groups, took photographs related to their local food environment. Each group analyzed and critically discussed their photographs in small group sessions. Through a consensus-building process, participants identified 30 emerging categories, which followed five conceptual themes related to their food environment: 1) eating in moderation, 2) cultural diversity, 3) food stores, 4) social relationships and 5) economic crisis and poverty. Participants, researchers and practitioners successfully collaborated in analyzing, writing, disseminating the project results, and directly informing local policy-makers, media, and other residents. The project results may guide community-generated interventions for promoting a healthier food environment.
authors.affiliation: Social and Cardiovascular Epidemiology Research Group, Departamento de Cirugía, Ciencias Médicas y Sociales, Universidad de Alcalá, Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain. Electronic address: julia.diez@uah.es.
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Díez
authors.affiliation: Social and Cardiovascular Epidemiology Research Group, Departamento de Cirugía, Ciencias Médicas y Sociales, Universidad de Alcalá, Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain. Electronic address: p.conde@uah.es.
authors.forename: Paloma
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Conde
authors.affiliation: Social and Cardiovascular Epidemiology Research Group, Departamento de Cirugía, Ciencias Médicas y Sociales, Universidad de Alcalá, Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain. Electronic address: maria.sandin@uah.es.
authors.forename: María
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sandin
authors.affiliation: Social and Cardiovascular Epidemiology Research Group, Departamento de Cirugía, Ciencias Médicas y Sociales, Universidad de Alcalá, Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain. Electronic address: maria.urtasun@uah.es.
authors.forename: María
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Urtasun
authors.affiliation: Public Health Institute of Madrid, Madrid City Council, Madrid, Spain. Electronic address: reme330@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Remedios
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: López
authors.affiliation: Resident of San Cristobal, Villaverde, Madrid, Spain. Electronic address: untaljoseluis@yahoo.es.
authors.forename: José Luis
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Carrero
authors.affiliation: Global Obesity Prevention Center at Johns Hopkins, Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States. Electronic address: jgittel1@jhu.edu.
authors.forename: Joel
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gittelsohn
authors.affiliation: Social and Cardiovascular Epidemiology Research Group, Departamento de Cirugía, Ciencias Médicas y Sociales, Universidad de Alcalá, Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain; Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States. Electronic address: manuel.franco@uah.es.
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Franco
mesh_terms: D055812:Community-Based Participatory Research; D004032:Diet; D004777:Environment; D005260:Female; D005502:Food; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010781:Photography / Q000379:methods*; D011204:Poverty Areas; D013030:Spain; D014505:Urban Population
keywords: Food environment; Participatory Action Research; Photovoice; Spain; Urban health