REPUBLIC
OF THE MARSHALL ISLANDS
HEALTHY STORES PROJECT Project
Status * Health
Challenge * Project
Goal * RMI Facts * Project
Features * Communication
Materials * Reports
Project Status
The Healthy Stores pilot program was completed in December
2001. Currently, other Pacific Island nations are considering
their own Healthy Stores programs modeled after the Marshall
Islands project. This work would be conducted in collaboration
with the Healthy
Living in the Pacific Islands (HLPI) project, which is
funded by the USDA Agricultural Development Assistance Program
(ADAP).
HEALTH CHALLENGES
IN THE MARSHALL ISLANDS
The Republic of the Marshall Islands has seen a dramatic
increase in obesity and related chronic diseases as its population
has become more dependent on imported (and mostly high-fat,
high-calorie) food sources. Pacific Islanders, like minority
populations in the United States (African American, Hispanic,
Native American, and others) are disproportionately affected
by diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, and other
chronic conditions.
HEALTHY STORES PROJECT
GOAL
To improve diet and reduce obesity and disease risk on the
Marshall Islands, Dr. Gittelsohn and colleagues, in collaboration
with the RMI Ministry of Health and Environment, developed,
implemented, and evaluated a pilot intervention trial with
22 large and small food stores. This was the first carefully
evaluated environmental, store-centered, intervention program
to take place in a developing country. It was developed with
particular attention to the unique cultural and economic factors
at work in the Marshall Islands and to the need for a sustainable
program to address diet and nutritional status.
REPUBLIC OF THE
MARSHALL ISLANDS FACTS
- Located 2,000 miles southwest of Hawaii
- Population ~ 50,000, spread across 33 islands grouped
into two parallel chains.
- Sixty percent of the population lives in one of two urban
centers.
- There is little diversity in edible fruits and vegetables,
and therefore a limited supply of local food.
- Six supermarkets and wholesale stores supply over 95 percent
of all imported food consumed in the country.
- Approximately 80-90 percent of all food/kcals consumed
in the urban areas is supplied by imported foods.
- Approximately 25-50 percent of all food/kcals consumed
in the outer islands is supplied by imported foods.
FEATURES OF THE
RMI HEALTHY STORES INTERVENTION
- Intervention developed based on substantial formative
research.
- Used motivational themes: how to avoid diabetes, being
healthy in life, being there for your children and grandchildren.
- Identified key foods for promotion
- 10 week intervention period, August-October 2001
- Four phases of intervention where different foods/themes
promoted
- Twelve stores (9 small and 3 large) part of intervention,
10 comparison stores
COMMUNICATION
APPROACHES
Mass Media:
- Radio announcements of key events and themes
- Newspaper ads
- Promotional video
In-Store:
PROJECT REPORTS
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