Elys Vasquez-Iscan, Assistant Professor
Education Department -Community Health Unit
The proposed research project aims to utilize a socio-ecological approach, to understand factors influencing access to and utilization of farmer’s markets and its impact on the adoption of healthful eating behavior among South Bronx residents. The socio-ecological model recognizes that individuals interact with multiple levels of influence, comprising societal, community, institutional, interpersonal, and individual levels. This approach underpins the importance to address health problems at various levels (distal and proximal) in order to yield improved health outcomes. The proposed research project will develop an interdisciplinary survey tool that is grounded on the socio-ecological model and the stages of behavior change model to understand strategies employed at different levels that influence access to and utilization of farmer’s markets and its impact on the adoption of healthful eating behavior. Thereby, the survey will assess the accessibility, utilization and impact of farmer’s markets among South Bronx residents.
