Abstract:
The access dimensions to the local, urban food environment of adults in the eastern suburbs of the Tshwane metropolitan are explored and described. The study further determined how the food access dimensions contribute to the food choices and food consumption patterns of the study group.
South Africa has the highest rate of urbanisation in the world. Moving to and living in urban areas usually result in major shifts in people’s food consumption patterns and lifestyles which are associated with non-communicable diseases. Intervention strategies aimed at changing consumers’ food behaviour often fail to recognise the complexities associated with the local urban food environment and the contribution of the food access dimensions. This study fills the gap on the limited information on the food access dimensions and food choices of white South African urban adults. A mixed methods approach was followed in this cross-sectional study that consisted of two phases.
In the first quantitative phase, an electronic survey questionnaire was used to gather information on respondents’ usual food shopping and eating patterns, together with aspects related to the local urban food environment. The questionnaire was completed by a total of 230 white adults residing in regions 3, 4 and 6 of the Tshwane metropolis. The second qualitative data collection phase used Geographic Information System (GIS) measurement to identify, describe and map all the food retail outlets in the eastern suburbs of Tshwane. From the mapped food stores in regions 3, 4 and 6, stores were purposively selected and in-store observations were conducted to gain information and insight into the variety, quality and price of food products on offer in these food retail stores. A food basket was developed to obtain and compare the price of certain food products. Food prices between food stores were compared, as well as with the Consumer Price Index. Results indicated a minimal difference in price and it is concluded that most of the food products seemed to be affordably-priced to adults in Tshwane.
Results confirm that urban consumers in Tshwane have easy, adequate access to food stores and purchase most of their food at supermarkets at least once or more times a week. The results also prevailed that a variety of good quality, affordable food products are available and accessible at food stores close to them and that they find the stores accommodating and food products acceptable. Although the Dietary Diversity Score (DDS) of 6.20 reflected that the majority of the respondents daily consumed a variety of food, they do not follow all the guidelines of the Food-Based Dietary Guidelines for South Africa, which might have an impact on their future health.
This research contributes to a better understanding of how the access dimensions in the local urban food environment contribute to urban consumers’ food choices. By exploring the local urban food environment of urban consumers in Tshwane, this study contributed to fill the knowledge gap on this topic in South Africa.
