Balancing on the redline: a qualitative study of the experiences purchasing sugar-sweetened beverages among Indigenous adults in a Canadian urban neighbourhood

ObjectiveGrowing evidence suggests that inner-city residents actively navigate their food landscape to meet a wide range of socio-economic needs. Given the increasing focus of health policies on sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) through price-based strategies, it is critical to understand purchasing habits of populations with higher SSB intake. This study examined urban Indigenous adults' SSB shopping behaviour and experiences.MethodsWe conducted a community-based participatory research study using semi-structured interviews with a purposive sample of Indigenous adults (>= 18 years old) from the North End neighbourhood of Winnipeg. Interviews were audio recorded, transcribed verbatim, and thematically analyzed.ResultsAll 20 participants (women = 10; men = 8; two-spirit = 2) consumed SSB on a regular, daily basis either at the time of the interview or at a prior period in their lives. Themes defining residents' SSB shopping behaviour and experiences of shopping for SSB included balancing on the redline, specifically (1) balancing SSB purchasing constraints and facilitators with savvy shopping approaches and (2) balancing (stereo)typical reactions with resilient coping approaches. Residents procured SSB in various stores within and beyond the boundaries of the North End neighbourhood. SSB is a considerable, reoccurring expense, requiring savvy price-shopping strategies in order to access. Indigenous adults experience judgement and stereotyping when purchasing SSB, including intersecting racial, class, and weight stigma.ConclusionPurchasing SSB is perceived as a source of judgement when outside of inner-city neighbourhoods. Policymakers should consider how policies directed at SSB, which are consumed by Indigenous and food-insecure populations in greater quantities, may magnify existing racial, class, and weight-based discrimination. ObjectifDe l'evidence grandissante suggere que les residents urbains naviguent activement leur environnement alimentaire pour rejoindre multiples niveaux socio-economiques. etant donne l'interet grandissant envers nos principes de sante pour boissons sucrees (BS) en travers des strategies a base de prix, il est critique de comprendre les habitudes d'achat des populations qui consomment le plus de BS. Cette etude a examine les habitudes et experiences d'achats de BS d'adultes urbains Indigenes.MethodeNous avons fait une recherche participative dans une communaute utilisant des interviews semi-structures utilisant un echantillon d'adultes Indigenes (>= 18 ans) de la communaute << North End >> a Winnipeg. Les interviews ont ete enregistres, transcrits verbatim et analyses thematiquement.ResultatsTous les 20 participants (femmes = 10; hommes = 8, bispirituel = 2) ont consomme des BS regulierement, a tous les jours, soit au temps de l'interview ou a un temps passe dans leur vie. Les themes qui definissent les habitudes d'achat de BS des residents et leurs experiences d'achat de BS incluent : balancer sur la ligne rouge, en particulier (1) balancer les contraintes et facilitateurs d'achat de BS avec des approches d'achats astucieux et (2) balancer les reactions (stereo)typiques aves des approches d'adaptation resilientes. Les residents se procurent des BS dans multiples magasins a l'interieur et a l'exterieur des limites de la communaute << North End >>. Les BS sont une depense considerable et recurrentes qui requiert des strategies de prix d'achats astucieux. Les adultes indigenes experience du jugement et des stereotypes lors d'achats de BS, qui incluent des stigmatismes raciaux, classistes et a base de poids.ConclusionL'achat de BS est percu comme une source de jugement lorsqu'on sort des communautes du centre-ville. Les decideurs politiques devraient considerer que leur politique envers les BS, qui sont disproportionnellement consommes par les populations radicalisees et alimentairement insecures, peuvent aggraver les discriminations raciaux, classistes ou basees sur le poids.