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Built Environment and Gender-Based Vulnerability as Key Drivers of Food Insecurity in Allegheny County

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  • Alex Firestine

    (College of Business Administration, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA)

  • Audrey J. Murrell

    (College of Business Administration, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
    Katz Graduate School of Business, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA)

Abstract

Food insecurity is pervasive in Allegheny County, as one in five residents experiences food insecurity. Food insecurity is linked to chronic health conditions like heart disease and hypertension and disproportionately affects women in the United States, particularly women who are head of household. There are multiple dimensions used to measure regional disparities in food accessibility. Prior research has examined the linkages between food access and food insecurity, and this study aims to explore further the relationship between equitable access to sustainable and affordable food sources. This study examines food outlets in Allegheny County to determine if there is a significant relationship between food outlet availability and food insecurity. Both the presence and accessibility of these food outlets were examined. To measure accessibility, the walking distance to the nearest public transportation stop was calculated for each public transportation stop. The minimum distance to each food outlet was compared to food insecurity rates on a census tract level. Results showed that communities without grocery stores had lower access to healthy and affordable food sources. Also, communities with a higher proportion of female-headed households experienced greater food insecurity, regardless of access to food outlets. There was no statistically significant relationship between the distance from public transportation stops to grocery stores and rates of food insecurity overall and in low-income communities. However, communities with inaccessible grocery stores, either absent in the census tract or without close public transport stops, did have even greater average rates of food insecurity if there was an above-average proportion of female-headed households. Based on these findings, it is evident there exist structural elements of the built environment that correspond with disproportionate rates of food insecurity experienced by communities with households that are predominately female headed. In addition to resource support for these marginalized groups, we suggest that sole reliance on distance as an indicator of food insecurity can be misleading. There should be a greater focus on walkability aggregated on a household or individual level within the community instead of physical distance alone at a general scale.

Suggested Citation

  • Alex Firestine & Audrey J. Murrell, 2024. "Built Environment and Gender-Based Vulnerability as Key Drivers of Food Insecurity in Allegheny County," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 21(7), pages 1-21, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:21:y:2024:i:7:p:906-:d:1433214
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Hutch, D.J. & Bouye, K.E. & Skillen, E. & Lee, C. & Whitehead, L. & Rashid, J.R., 2011. "Potential strategies to eliminate built environment disparities for disadvantaged and vulnerable communities," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 101(4), pages 587-595.
    2. Kristen Cooksey-Stowers & Marlene B. Schwartz & Kelly D. Brownell, 2017. "Food Swamps Predict Obesity Rates Better Than Food Deserts in the United States," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(11), pages 1-20, November.
    3. Megan Carney, 2012. "Compounding crises of economic recession and food insecurity: a comparative study of three low-income communities in Santa Barbara County," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 29(2), pages 185-201, June.
    4. Richard C. Sadler & Jason A. Gilliland & Godwin Arku, 2013. "A Food Retail-Based Intervention on Food Security and Consumption," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 10(8), pages 1-22, August.
    5. Sheely, Amanda, 2022. "More than money? Job quality and food insecurity among employed lone mother households in the United States," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 112504, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    6. Fei Men & Valerie Tarasuk, 2021. "Food Insecurity amid the COVID-19 Pandemic: Food Charity, Government Assistance, and Employment," Canadian Public Policy, University of Toronto Press, vol. 47(2), pages 202-230, June.
    7. Audrey J. Murrell & Ray Jones & Sam Rose & Alex Firestine & Joe Bute, 2022. "Food Security as Ethics and Social Responsibility: An Application of the Food Abundance Index in an Urban Setting," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(16), pages 1-13, August.
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