Changes in urbanicity and household availability of and proximity to food vendors from 2004 to 2020 in a rural district of northwestern Bangladesh

Background

The nutrition transition underway in South Asia is likely mediated by changes to the food environment. Yet, few studies have been conducted in rural areas of South Asia to describe how the food environment has changed.

Objective

This analysis assessed changes in household availability of and proximity to markets, grocery shops, and tea shops over a 16-year time period in Gaibandha, Bangladesh.

Methods

We analyzed household demographic and geospatial data collected at 3 time points from 2004 to 2020 in a contiguous rural area (435 km²). We defined availability as number of food vendors within 400- and 1600-m radius of households and proximity as distance to nearest vendor. We used linear and Poisson models to estimate associations between household socioeconomic status (SES) and food vendor availability and proximity. We used multi-level models to conduct similar analyses for community-level urbanicity.

Results

From 2004 to 2020, the numbers of markets, grocery shops and tea shops increased by 21%, 66% and 270%, respectively. Food vendor proximity did not change by household SES, but less urban households witnessed larger increases in proximity to markets (p for interaction<0.001) and tea shops (p for interaction<0.001) over time. Grocery shop and tea shop availability was initially higher and increased more over time for households in higher urbanicity areas (p for interaction<0.001).

Conclusion

Over a 16-year period, this rural area of Bangladesh became more urbanized, increasing the availability of and proximity to markets, grocery shops, and tea shops. Further research is needed to see how these changes impact rural residents’ intake and nutritional status.