Piloting Market Food Environment Assessments in LMICs: A Feasibility Assessment and Lessons Learned

Area of Science:

• Nutrition Science
• Public Health
• Food Systems Research

Background:

• Food environments in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are changing, impacting dietary patterns.
• Measuring food environments in LMICs is challenging due to existing data gaps.
• Understanding these environments is crucial for linking them to dietary outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the feasibility of implementing the USAID Advancing Nutrition's Market Food Environment Assessment (MFEA).
• The MFEA is a suite of 7 assessments designed to be non-resource intensive.
• The study aimed to evaluate the practical application of these assessments in LMIC settings.

Main Methods:

• The MFEA package was implemented in four diverse countries: Liberia, Honduras, Nigeria, and Timor-Leste.
• Feasibility was assessed using a mixed-methods approach, including qualitative and quantitative data.
• Data sources comprised enumerator feedback from training, forms, meeting notes, and partner reports.

Main Results:

• Implementation of the MFEA package was found to be feasible overall, with variations in ease and practicality across the 7 assessments.
• Key themes emerged, including vendor engagement challenges, the necessity of local official buy-in, and a preference for electronic data collection.
• Other identified themes included market selection difficulties, time constraints, and the need for improved alignment in data collection and analysis.

Conclusions:

• The MFEA package, with minor adjustments, is suitable for characterizing market food environments in LMICs.
• This assessment tool can effectively inform the development of context-specific interventions.
• The findings support the use of MFEA to understand and improve food access in resource-limited settings.