Comparative Performance of NEMS-S Surveys in Latino Food Stores in the Greater Boston Area

作者：Caplan Emily^*; Kanter Rebecca; Bearup Richelle; Solomons Noel W; Bermudez Odilia I

来源：Archivos Latinoamericanos de Nutricion, 2017, 67(2): 98-105.

• NEMS-S
• food environment
• Latinos
• food policy

The dietary practices of diverse population groups, associated with the nutritional transition and the rapid demographic changes occurring globally require more attention to the food preferences of migrant groups such as Latinos living in the United States United States of America (US). This work aimed at the performance of an instrument utilized to measure availability of healthy food options in Latino stores located in the town of Somerville, state of Massachusetts. The methodology included the application of two versions: Guatemalan and US of the Nutrition Environment Measures Survey for Stores (NEMS-S), for the assessment of the availability of healthy food options in three Latino stores. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The results indicated that foods sold in Latino stores were identified more successfully with the Guatemalan-NEMS-S than with the US NEMS-S. There was a general lack of healthy food options found when using the US survey, as well as a relatively narrow selection of fruits and vegetables. As conclusion, it was found that the US NEMS-S tended to identify a lower number of healthy food options, as compared to a larger number of similar options when a culturally-appropriate survey was used. These findings illustrate a manner in which a culture-specific instrument perform more appropriately than similar instruments adapted for other population groups, especially when the results are to be applied to support development of healthy food policies.

• 出版日期2017-6