Perceptions of dietary sugar consumption among public housing residents using a modified qualitative photovoice methodology
Abstract Background Consumption of dietary sugar (e.g. sugar-sweetened beverages and high sugar foods) is a predominant contributor to chronic health conditions, particularly in communities of low socio-economic position. Our objective was to explore social contextual influences on dietary sugar con...
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2025-04-01
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-22391-2 |
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| author | Mabeline Velez Brenda Heaton Chelsey Solar Yinette Fuertes Belinda Borrelli Raul I. Garcia Lisa M. Quintiliani |
| author_facet | Mabeline Velez Brenda Heaton Chelsey Solar Yinette Fuertes Belinda Borrelli Raul I. Garcia Lisa M. Quintiliani |
| author_sort | Mabeline Velez |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Consumption of dietary sugar (e.g. sugar-sweetened beverages and high sugar foods) is a predominant contributor to chronic health conditions, particularly in communities of low socio-economic position. Our objective was to explore social contextual influences on dietary sugar consumption among public housing residents in Boston, MA. Methods This study employed the use of photovoice, a qualitative technique involving participant photography and narratives. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we conducted photovoice methods using Zoom. Adult residents of two public housing developments were invited to participate in pairs of online group sessions. The first session provided training on photovoice methodology and a discussion of example photographs and written narratives. Over the ensuing two weeks, participants took or identified stock photos as visual examples of personally-experienced barriers and facilitators of avoiding sugary foods and beverages. During the second session, study staff facilitated development of verbal narratives via group discussion. A total of 18 sessions were audio recorded, transcribed, and double-coded for themes. Results Participants (n = 49) were predominantly women and identified as either Hispanic (61.2%) or non-Hispanic Black (30.6%). Approximately half of participants (51.1%) reported consuming sugar-sweetened beverages at least once per day. Qualitative analysis revealed participant-identified influences on dietary sugar consumption across multiple domains of influence, including individual preferences, beliefs, or circumstance, the social environment, the physical environment, and the macro environment. Conclusions The multiple social contextual influences on dietary sugar consumption identified in this study, particularly centrality of the home, cultural influences, individual-level sabotaging factors, may be useful for development of culturally tailored health promotion messaging and intervention through multiple channels. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-18637ed8ff8d41ecaadb14a265ae8c53 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Public Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-18637ed8ff8d41ecaadb14a265ae8c532025-08-20T03:10:13ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582025-04-0125111110.1186/s12889-025-22391-2Perceptions of dietary sugar consumption among public housing residents using a modified qualitative photovoice methodologyMabeline Velez0Brenda Heaton1Chelsey Solar2Yinette Fuertes3Belinda Borrelli4Raul I. Garcia5Lisa M. Quintiliani6Department of Health Policy & Health Services Research, Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental MedicineDepartment of Health Policy & Health Services Research, Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental MedicineVA Boston Healthcare SystemDepartment of Health Policy & Health Services Research, Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental MedicineDepartment of Health Policy & Health Services Research, Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental MedicineDepartment of Health Policy & Health Services Research, Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental MedicineSection of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, Boston University, Boston Medical CenterAbstract Background Consumption of dietary sugar (e.g. sugar-sweetened beverages and high sugar foods) is a predominant contributor to chronic health conditions, particularly in communities of low socio-economic position. Our objective was to explore social contextual influences on dietary sugar consumption among public housing residents in Boston, MA. Methods This study employed the use of photovoice, a qualitative technique involving participant photography and narratives. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we conducted photovoice methods using Zoom. Adult residents of two public housing developments were invited to participate in pairs of online group sessions. The first session provided training on photovoice methodology and a discussion of example photographs and written narratives. Over the ensuing two weeks, participants took or identified stock photos as visual examples of personally-experienced barriers and facilitators of avoiding sugary foods and beverages. During the second session, study staff facilitated development of verbal narratives via group discussion. A total of 18 sessions were audio recorded, transcribed, and double-coded for themes. Results Participants (n = 49) were predominantly women and identified as either Hispanic (61.2%) or non-Hispanic Black (30.6%). Approximately half of participants (51.1%) reported consuming sugar-sweetened beverages at least once per day. Qualitative analysis revealed participant-identified influences on dietary sugar consumption across multiple domains of influence, including individual preferences, beliefs, or circumstance, the social environment, the physical environment, and the macro environment. Conclusions The multiple social contextual influences on dietary sugar consumption identified in this study, particularly centrality of the home, cultural influences, individual-level sabotaging factors, may be useful for development of culturally tailored health promotion messaging and intervention through multiple channels.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-22391-2Dietary sugarsPublic housingCommunity-based participatory researchQualitative researchPhotovoice |
| spellingShingle | Mabeline Velez Brenda Heaton Chelsey Solar Yinette Fuertes Belinda Borrelli Raul I. Garcia Lisa M. Quintiliani Perceptions of dietary sugar consumption among public housing residents using a modified qualitative photovoice methodology BMC Public Health Dietary sugars Public housing Community-based participatory research Qualitative research Photovoice |
| title | Perceptions of dietary sugar consumption among public housing residents using a modified qualitative photovoice methodology |
| title_full | Perceptions of dietary sugar consumption among public housing residents using a modified qualitative photovoice methodology |
| title_fullStr | Perceptions of dietary sugar consumption among public housing residents using a modified qualitative photovoice methodology |
| title_full_unstemmed | Perceptions of dietary sugar consumption among public housing residents using a modified qualitative photovoice methodology |
| title_short | Perceptions of dietary sugar consumption among public housing residents using a modified qualitative photovoice methodology |
| title_sort | perceptions of dietary sugar consumption among public housing residents using a modified qualitative photovoice methodology |
| topic | Dietary sugars Public housing Community-based participatory research Qualitative research Photovoice |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-22391-2 |
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