Methods to stimulate community action using GIS mapping with local data collection to assess food availability and marketing in low-income neighborhoods

The Cancer Prevention and Nutrition Section (CPNS) in the California Department of Health Services has launched a strategic planning process for local health departments that utilizes a statewide online Geographic Information System (GIS) to map selected indicators of healthy neighborhood food environments in low-income areas of California in combination with on-the-ground data collection. The results are used to select priority areas for action to change outer spheres of the Social Ecological Model. The Communities of Excellence in Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity Prevention (CX³) project is initially focusing on 16 out of 61 indicators of healthy neighborhood nutrition environments identified through an online rating process with a diverse array of public health professionals. Tools and methods for selected indicators were tested by six pilot sites. Each site used census tract data and different characteristics such as race/ethnicity, rural, urban and suburban to select a range of three and seven low-income neighborhoods, Accessibility to supermarkets and farmer's markets, as well as the proximity of fast food outlets to schools and parks are mapped using the GIS. GIS is also used to determine per capita ratios of neighborhood indicators between low income areas and median income areas and to develop an initial overview of community food environments prior to data collection in the field. Data collected on marketing and the availability of healthy food in stores is analyzed by site for strategic planning. Pilot data from the 22 neighborhoods will be combined to learn more about food access in low-income areas.