Informal food environment is associated with household vegetable purchase patterns and dietary intake in the DECIDE study: Empirical evidence from food vendor mapping in peri-urban Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Equity Focus

This study targeted the relationship between the informal food environment and the food purchasing behaviour, dietary intakes, and nutritional status of households with people living with human immunodeficiency virus.

Case Summary

The project developed four metrics inspired by landscape ecology to characterize formal, semi-formal, and informal food environments. These metrics were used to evaluate associations to household food purchase patterns, energy intake, and nutritional status.•Vegetables, especially green leafy vegetables, were primarily sold by informal mobile food vendors, most of whom were women. A greater density of vegetable vendors or informal vendors within 500 meters of a household is associated with a higher likelihood of vegetable purchases and lower energy intake.The role of informal and semi-formal food vendors in supporting consumption of nutritious diets should not be discounted, and gender sensitive  actions to promote their livelihoods is needed.

Lessons Learned

  • The role of informal and semi-formal food vendors in supporting consumption of nutritious diets should not be discounted, and gender sensitive actions to promote their livelihoods is needed.

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Search results for Area: Tanzania: 2

CASE STUDY
2021

Informal food environment is associated with household vegetable purchase patterns and dietary intake in the DECIDE study: Empirical evidence from food vendor mapping in peri-urban Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

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TANZANIA
CASE STUDY
2017

Exploring the Staple Foodscape of Dar es Salaam

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TANZANIA