Author : Chue Htet Hnin

Summary : With increasing awareness on the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 3, and evolving public needs, the vision for food and nutrition security has transformed. Within the food system, dietary choices are shaped by food environments, which influence food availability, accessibility, and consumption behavior. This study examined these factors within the QGIS-determined food catchment areas (0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 km) of Zegyo Central Market in Mandalay City, Myanmar. Zegyo Market stands as the commercial hub of Mandalay, playing a crucial role in the local economy and food distribution network.

Both primary and secondary data on retail food outlets, market classification, and consumer behavior were collected from a total of 146 households which were identified through grid sampling. To determine household diet diversity scores, demographic data and detailed household diet composition using a 24-hour diet recall period were collected through face-to-face interviews with the aid of structured questionnaire. Aside from descriptive analysis, a modified Retail Food Environment Index (mRFEI) was used to analyze the physical environment, while the Local Moran's Index was utilized to evaluate the relationship between spatial patterns and diet diversity. Additionally, the influence of socio-economic factors on consumer food choices was examined using ordinal logistic regression analysis.

Findings from this study offered context-specific insights into the relationship between household characteristics and food environments, providing essential evidence for the design, implementation, and monitoring of targeted policy interventions to enhance diet diversity and nutrition in Mandalay and possibly other similar regions in Myanmar. Relevant policy recommendations were provided.