Exploring the multiple dimensions of perceived food access in the local food environment

Abstract Persons in socioeconomically disadvantaged situations (PSEDs) are more susceptible and disproportionally exposed to unhealthy food environments, resulting in poorer dietary outcomes. Food access plays an important role within the wider food environment. This qualitative paper explores the context-specific relationships between the dimensions of perceived food access within the local food environment among PSEDS. 23 participants were recruited through purposeful convenience sampling until data saturation was achieved in two municipalities in Flanders, Belgium. Utilizing the photovoice and photo-elicitation method, participants expressed their perceptions of food access within their local food environment and its role in their eating behaviour, both individually (n = 16) and in group (n = 7). Applying the access framework to our analysis, the dimensions of perceived food access among PSEDS were divided into the personal (acceptability and convenience), perceived external (accommodation and desirability) or both personal and perceived external (awareness, availability, accessibility and affordability) domain. Our results suggest that awareness (e.g. of local opportunities available) precedes the other dimensions and that affordability is related to all dimensions among PSEDs. This study underscores the importance of perceived food access in healthy eating among PSEDS. The identified food access dimensions can inform policy, urban planning and community-based interventions to promote equitable access to healthy food. Key messages • Understanding perceived food access is essential to identify ways in which inequalities in food access can be addressed. • Perceived food access interacts between external and personal domains.