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Caregiver perceptions of a fruit and vegetable prescription programme for low-income paediatric patients
Amy Saxe-Custack1, Heather Claire Lofton2, Mona Hanna-Attisha3
11Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition,Michigan State University,Pediatric Public Health Initiative,200 E 1st Street,Flint,MI 48502,USA.
Insights
A pediatric clinic
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Health
- Public Health Nutrition
- Community Health Initiatives
Background:
- Childhood health is significantly influenced by environmental factors, including access to nutritious food.
- Food insecurity and limited access to healthy food options pose significant barriers to children's proper growth and development.
- Primary care settings can play a crucial role in addressing these challenges.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate a novel primary care initiative aimed at improving children's access to healthy food in a low-income community.
- To understand caregivers' perceptions of a pediatric clinic's co-location with a farmers' market and a fruit and vegetable prescription program.
Main Methods:
- A qualitative study involving thirty-two semi-structured interviews with caregivers.
- Thematic analysis was used to analyze transcribed interview data.
- The study examined perceptions of clinic co-location, a fruit and vegetable prescription program, and their impact on children's produce consumption.
Main Results:
- Caregivers reported increased family shopping at the farmers' market due to clinic co-location and the prescription program.
- The initiative was perceived to improve access to high-quality fresh produce.
- Participants indicated enhanced food security and improved child consumption of fruits and vegetables.
Conclusions:
- A collaborative model integrating a farmers' market with a pediatric clinic and a fruit and vegetable prescription program shows promise.
- This combined intervention is perceived by caregivers as effective in enhancing food security and access to produce for children.
- Such initiatives can positively impact children's dietary intake and overall health in underserved populations.
Objective:
The physical and social environments that surround children should support good health. However, challenges with food security and access prevent many children from consuming a healthy diet, which is critical to proper growth and development. The present study sought to gain a better understanding of primary care initiatives to address these issues in a low-income setting.
Design:
Following the relocation of a paediatric clinic to a farmers' market building and the implementation of a fruit and vegetable prescription programme, researchers conducted thirty-two semi-structured interviews with caregivers. Researchers elicited caregivers' perceptions of clinic co-location with the farmers' market; experiences with the prescription programme; opinions of the farmers' market; and perceived impact on child consumption of fresh produce. Interview recordings were transcribed for textual analysis. Using thematic analysis, researchers examined qualitative data to identify patterns across transcripts and formulate emerging themes. Researchers concluded when data saturation was reached.
Setting:
Flint, Michigan, USA.
Subjects:
The majority of participants were female (91 %) and African American (53 %).
Results:
Four recurrent themes emerged during interviews: (i) convenience of relocation; (ii) attitude towards prescription programme; (iii) challenges with implementation; and (iv) perceived impact of combined interventions. Caregivers indicated that the co-location and prescription programme increased family shopping at the farmers' market, improved access to high-quality produce and improved food security.
Conclusions:
A fruit and vegetable prescription programme involving a partnership between a farmers' market and paediatric clinic was perceived as effective in improving food security, food access and child consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables.
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