ABSTRACT

This study examined and assessed food availability in selected supermarkets in Enugu, Enugu State. A content study design was used to analyze healthy and unhealthy foods present in supermarket. Food availability in selected supermarkets in Enugu State was accessed using GIS and ODK procedure. While Measure and Map Access to Grocery Stores was used to determine the distance, location and names of the selected supermarkets. The result was analyzed using. descriptive statistics. The result show that; (60.0%) of the shelf space occupied by healthy foods was found in the supermarkets located at the store entrance. Overall, 84,000 shelves space area was occupied by healthy foods products, with 5 empty shelves. Selected unhealthy products were available in front of the store with high percentage (60%). The space allocated to "unhealthy" foods; about 20% of these were sugar-sweetened beverages. Healthy items were found with lesser frequency 2(40%) in both high/large and small supermarkets. Core and healthy food in the supermarkets were 33.3%, number of shelves (19) and shelves space 649,150, lesser that 44.4% unhealthy, (30) number of shelves and 1,201,150 shelves space, while miscellaneous foods were (22.2%), number of shelves (13) and shelves space (361,150). Front end-of-aisle, endcaps and check-outs, foods available (50%) are core and healthy checkouts (66) as number of shelves and 4,760,700 shelves space, while 42.3% and 7.69% are ultra-processed and miscellaneous at the end-caps front and back with unhealthy foods having (69) number of shelves, 5,747,400 shelves space and miscellaneous (10) number of shelves and 924,000 shelves space. In conclusion, for every 5 m? of shelf area for healthy foods, there was 5 m of shelf area for unhealthy foods on average. For each unprocessed or minimally processed food product, there were · 5 ultra-processed food products available in the supermarket/mini-mart or in store on average. Recommendation, there are need for government and local authorities to institute measures that improve relative availability of healthy, minimally processed foods within supermarkets/mini-marts and in-stores.