Combining Ground-Truthing and Technology to Improve Accuracy in Establishing Children's Food Purchasing Behaviors

Abstract

Developing nutrition-focused environmental interventions for youth requires accurate assessment of where they purchase food. We have developed an innovative, technology-based method to improve the accuracy of food source recall among children using a tablet PC and ground-truthing methodologies. As part of the B'more Healthy Communties for Kids study, we mapped and digitally photographed every food source within a half-mile radius of 14 Baltimore City recreation centers. This food source database was then used with children from the surrounding neighborhoods to search for and identify the food sources they frequent. This novel integration of traditional data collection and technology enables researchers to gather highly accurate information on food source usage among children in Baltimore City. Funding is provided by the NICHD U-54 Grant #1U54HD070725-02.

Keywords: African Americans; Baltimore; GIS; children; food environment; food sources; low-income; mapping; obesity; purchasing patterns; software; technology.

Figures

Figure 1

Process of ground-truthing, mapping, and the Baltimore Food Source Software development and testing

Figure 2

Food source type by percentage of total food sources identified during groundtruthing (n = 333).

Figure 3

Food Sources and Recreation Center Zones Mapped for the BHCK Study*