Selecting target populations for community nutrition intervention using spatial analyses

Abstract

Target populations for community‐based interventions are often selected using subjective methods, despite interest in increasing objective, quantifiable methods in public health intervention design. The purpose of this study was to determine if spatial patterns exist among the environmental influences on childhood obesity and to establish the effectiveness of spatial analyses in determining areas in need of nutritional intervention. Three environmental risk factors for childhood obesity were selected; socioeconomic status, the proximity of grocery stores with healthy options, and the walkability of the study area. Prevalence data from each influence was mapped for each census tract in Berkeley County, West Virginia using the ArcGIS program (ESRI). The resulting maps showed clustering of risk factors and by ranking each census tract by degree of prevalence it was possible to highlight a single census tract with the greatest cumulative risk for obesity in children, with respect to the selected risk factors. In conclusion, this study has found an effective, quantifiable method with which to determine the target population in highest need for nutrition intervention.Funding source: USDA Agriculture and Food Research Initiative