EFNEP: a nutrition education program that demonstrates cost-benefit

Area of Science:

• Public Health Nutrition
• Health Economics

Background:

• Nutrition education programs aim to improve dietary behaviors and health outcomes.
• Evaluating the economic value of such programs is crucial for resource allocation and policy decisions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a cost-benefit analysis of the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP).
• To determine if participant savings in food expenditures justify program costs.

Main Methods:

• Collected program costs and prospective data on food expenditures from 371 women over 6 months.
• Calculated Net Present Value (NPV) using cost per participant and projected 5-year savings at various discount rates.
• Compared food expenditures, intakes, and behaviors between nutrition education participants and a control group.

Main Results:

• Average EFNEP cost per participant was $388.
• Participants' monthly food expenditures decreased by $10-$20, equating to $124-$234 annually.
• Projected 5-year NPV ranged from $147 to $696, indicating cost-benefit.
• Participants increased intake of key nutrients and adopted healthier food practices.

Conclusions:

• EFNEP is a cost-beneficial program.
• The financial benefits are sensitive to reporting methods and long-term behavior change retention.
• The program yields positive economic value and improves nutritional intake.