Grady FVRx program impact on dietary practices and food security: A pre-post evaluation Público

Obrutu, Okezi (Spring 2020)

Permanent URL: https://etd.library.emory.edu/concern/etds/8p58pf283?locale=pt-BR
Published

Abstract

Objective

Food security affects dietary practices, which in turn influences chronic disease risk. We sought to identify the effect of the Grady Fruit and Vegetable Prescription (FVRx) program for low income patients on dietary practices and food security status as well as to characterize variations in effect by baseline food security status.

Methods

Analysis was done using pre- and post- program data from the 2018 and 2019 cohorts of Grady FVRx program. The USDA Healthy Eating Index (HEI) was used as a template to create scores for healthy food and beverage consumption, healthy purchase practices and food resource management. Food security status was assessed using the USDA 6-item household food security scale. A chi-square test was used to determine the association between baseline food security and direction of change in end line food security status. Poisson regression models were used to determine change in fruit and vegetable intake, while linear regression models were used to determine change in dietary practice scores.

Results

Participants experienced significant changes in food security status, fruit and vegetable intake, healthy food and beverage consumption, healthy purchase choices, and food resource management. At end line, 34% of participants had increased food security while 56% maintained their baseline status. Change in food security was significantly associated with baseline food security status, with 67% and 58% of very low and low food secure participants respectively reporting improved food security at end line (p<0.0001). Fruit and vegetable intake increased by 0.13(95% CI - 0.07,0.19) and 0.10(95%CI - 0.04,0.14) respectively. Dietary practice scores increased as follows: healthy food consumption [0.38 (95%CI - 0.23,0.51)], healthy beverage consumption [0.27 (95%CI - 0.11,0.36)], healthy purchase choices [0.59 (95%CI - 0.44,0.67)] and food resource management [0.61 (95%CI - 0.44,0.65)]. Magnitude of change in dietary practice score was significantly lower among very low and low food insecure participants.

Conclusion

Grady’s FVRx program effected improved food security and dietary practices among participants. Baseline food security status impacted the magnitude of change in dietary practices. More research is necessary to understand the specific needs of food insecure populations in order to develop effective nutrition interventions for them.

Table of Contents

ABSTRACT. 2

LITERATURE REVIEW... 4

MANUSCRIPT. 9

Introduction. 9

Methods. 10

Results. 12

Discussion. 13

Tables. 16

Table 1 – Demographic characteristics by food security status. 16

Table 2 – Change in food security and dietary practices characteristics from baseline to end line. 18

Table 3 – Comparison of change in food security levels by baseline food security status. 18

Table 4 – Comparison of mean change in dietary practices by baseline food security status. 18

Table 5 - Comparison of mean change in dietary practices by direction of change in food security status. 18

Table 6 – Effect of end line resource management score on direction of change in food security status. 19

PUBLIC HEALTH IMPLICATIONS. 19

REFERENCES. 20

About this Master's Thesis

Rights statement
  • Permission granted by the author to include this thesis or dissertation in this repository. All rights reserved by the author. Please contact the author for information regarding the reproduction and use of this thesis or dissertation.
School
Department
Degree
Submission
Language
  • English
Research Field
Palavra-chave
Committee Chair / Thesis Advisor
Última modificação

Primary PDF

Supplemental Files