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Gurung FINAL 11 23 2021 with cert.pdf (3.71 MB)

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Food Desert Mapping and Analysis in the City of Youngstown, Ohio

Gurung, Aastha
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ysu1637706620210257

Abstract Details

2021, Master of Science in Environmental Science, Youngstown State University, Department of Physics, Astronomy, Geology and Environmental Sciences.
With the growth of urbanization, the access to fresh, unprocessed foods is decreasing leading to regions of food deserts. Most city planning has not been designed to include access to fresh food supply for the residents. There are many different factors contributing to the phenomenon such as low-income, lack of access to proper and feasible public transport, lack of vehicle ownership, and absence of food retailers in specific urban regions. Utilizing Geographical Information Systems (GIS), stores and public transportation were mapped, and the availability of healthy food was evaluated. Food deserts in the city of Youngstown were identified by placing a buffer zone around each store. Economic background, race/ethnicity, transportation access, and health conditions of people living in the City of Youngstown were investigated. The large stores that provide a variety of fresh foods were located on the boundary of the city making them less accessible to residents near the city center. Public transportation did not greatly improve access because of its limited schedule. Most of the stores easily accessible to residents did not carry fresh fruits and vegetables although they did carry a limited amount of milk, eggs, and bread. Adverse health conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, cholesterol, and obesity did not vary much between food desert regions and non-desert regions of Youngstown. All the adverse health conditions were higher in the city as compared to Mahoning County rates. There is a need to improve the availability and access to healthy and fresh food to address the well-being of the community.
Felicia Armstrong, PhD (Advisor)
Peter Kimosop, PhD (Committee Member)
Colleen McLean, PhD (Committee Member)
Lashale Pugh, PhD (Committee Member)
69 p.
Demography; Environmental Science; Geographic Information Science
Food desert; Youngstown food desert; Demographic data related to food desert; Food security; Characterization of food resources in Youngstown, Ohio; Grocery stores; Health condition

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Gurung, A. (2021). Food Desert Mapping and Analysis in the City of Youngstown, Ohio [Master's thesis, Youngstown State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ysu1637706620210257

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Gurung, Aastha. Food Desert Mapping and Analysis in the City of Youngstown, Ohio. 2021. Youngstown State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ysu1637706620210257.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Gurung, Aastha. "Food Desert Mapping and Analysis in the City of Youngstown, Ohio." Master's thesis, Youngstown State University, 2021. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ysu1637706620210257

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

ysu1637706620210257
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© 2021, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Youngstown State University and OhioLINK.