Improving Maternal Health and Birth Outcomes Through FreshRx: A Food-Is-Medicine Intervention

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Maternal Health
• Nutritional Science

Background:

• Food insecurity significantly impacts maternal and infant health, particularly in vulnerable populations.
• Pregnancy and postpartum periods are critical windows for intervention to mitigate long-term health consequences.
• High rates of infant mortality, low birthweight, and preterm birth necessitate innovative approaches in areas like St. Louis, Missouri.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate a food-is-medicine intervention (FreshRx) aimed at reducing food insecurity, maternal stress, depression, anxiety, preterm labor, and low birthweight.
• To assess the impact of a pregnancy-focused food-is-medicine program on key maternal and infant health indicators.
• To determine the effectiveness of a collaborative approach between hunger relief organizations and obstetrics departments.

Main Methods:

• A pre-post interventional study design was employed for the FreshRx program.
• Participants (N=125) were pregnant individuals <24 weeks gestation, English-speaking, and enrolled in Medicaid, recruited from an obstetrics clinic.
• Key measures included the U.S. Household Food Security Survey, Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, birthweight, and gestational age, analyzed using a single-arm pre-post analysis.

Main Results:

• Participants achieved higher average gestational age (38.2 weeks) and birthweight (6.7 pounds) compared to regional averages.
• Postpartum assessment revealed a significant reduction in maternal depression rates (13%, P < .01) among completers.
• Baseline data indicated high levels of food insecurity (67.0%) and notable depressive symptoms (34.7%) among participants.

Conclusions:

• Food-is-medicine interventions show promise as an efficient and effective strategy for improving birth and maternal health outcomes.
• The FreshRx program demonstrates the potential of integrating nutritional support with clinical care for enhanced maternal and infant well-being.
• This approach offers an equitable pathway to address health disparities exacerbated by food insecurity.