Engaging Latina Females and Community Partners to Pilot Test and Optimize Medically Supportive Groceries

Food insecurity and diet-related chronic disease disproportionately affect Latina females. Food is medicine (FIM) is increasingly recognized for its role in addressing the dual challenge of food insecurity and diet-related chronic diseases. However, there is minimal evidence to guide FIM practice for Latina females.

This study aims to engage Latina females and community partners to test the acceptability, implementation feasibility, and preliminary effectiveness of medically supportive groceries.

In partnership with a Federally Qualified Health Center and community partners, Latina females at risk of diet-related chronic disease who screened positive for food insecurity (n = 25) received 8 weekly home deliveries of medically supportive groceries. Participants completed semistructured interviews, as well as surveys, at baseline and 8-wk follow-up. Interview transcripts were coded using inductive thematic analysis. Changes in food security and dietary intake were assessed using a pair sample t-test and McNemar's χ² test.

Females had a mean age of 52 y (34-73 y old), with 84% indicating a household income below the federal poverty line, and 77% had children at home. Participants were recruited within 4 wk and achieved a 100% success rate in delivering food. Interview themes included cultural acceptability and satisfaction, individual and household benefits of participation, facilitators for optimal use, and barriers. At follow-up, 59% reported food insecurity compared with 92% at baseline (P = 0.016). Participants reported comparable levels of daily fruit and vegetable intake at baseline and follow-up (P = 0.7).

Findings demonstrated that medically supportive groceries are feasible and acceptable for Latina females with diet-related chronic diseases and support comprehensive FIM interventions in diverse populations.