Food cost and availability in a rural setting in Australia
Data(s) |
04/11/2004
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Resumo |
<b>Introduction</b>: The burden of chronic diseases is rapidly increasing worldwide. In Australia rural populations have a greater burden of disease. Chronic diseases are largely preventable with diet as a key risk factor. With respect to diet-related chronic disease, dietary risk may be due to poor food access, namely, poor availability and/or the high cost of healthy food. It is likely that poor food access is an issue in rural areas. Objective: To assess food access in rural south-west (SW) Victoria, Australia.<br /><br /><b>Methods:</b> A total of 53 supermarkets and grocery stores in 42 towns participated in a survey of food cost and availability in the rural area of SW Victoria. The survey assessed availability and cost of a Healthy Food Access Basket (HFAB) which was designed to meet the nutritional needs of a family of 6 for 2 weeks.<br /><br /><b>Results:</b> Seventy-two percent of the eligible shops in SW Victoria were surveyed. The study found that the complete HFAB was significantly more likely to be available in a town with a chain-owned store (<i>p</i><0.00). The complete HFAB was less likely to be available from an independently owned store in a town with only one grocery shop (<i>p</i><0.004). The average cost of the HFAB across SW Victoria was AU$380.30 ± $25.10 (mean ± SD). There was a mean range in difference of cost of the HFAB of $36.92. In particular, high variability was found in the cost of fruits and vegetables.<br /><br /><b>Conclusions:</b> Cost and availability of healthy food may be compromised in rural areas. Implications: Improvements in food access in rural areas could reduce the high burden of disease suffered by rural communities.<br /> |
Identificador | |
Idioma(s) |
eng |
Publicador |
Australia Rural Health Education Network |
Relação |
http://dro.deakin.edu.au/eserv/DU:30002496/dunbar-foodcost-2004.pdf http://dro.deakin.edu.au/eserv/DU:30002496/n20040475.pdf http://www.rrh.org.au/publishedarticles/article_print_311.pdf |
Direitos |
2004, CM Burns, P Gibbon, R Boak, S Baudinette, JA Dunbar |
Palavras-Chave | #food access #nutrition |
Tipo |
Journal Article |