Abstract

GIS for Community Food Access and its Relationship to Cancer
Track: Health and Human Services
Author(s): Steve Ramroop

A common profession using GIS is health. In this paper we attempt to use GIS to map food accessibility in the state of Alabama and to investigate if there is a relationship to the risk of cancer. When compared with any other American group, African Americans are at the greatest risk for cancer. Data associated with the access to healthy food choices and opportunities for physical activity could impact upon cancer risk. In this project one objective is to audit the community retail food outlets (RFO) to identify opportunities for physical activity in the Alabama Black Belt (ABB). Another objective is to develop and illustrate variations in cost, access and availability of healthy food in the ABB. RFO is audited using the United States Department of Agriculture /Thrifty Food Basket. Results from this study would be used to identify communities within the ABB at risk for cancer.

Steve Ramroop
Troy University
501 University Drive,
Math & Sciences, Geomatics Program
Troy , Alabama 36082
United States
Phone: 334 670 5693
E-mail: sramroop@troy.edu