Feasibility of Food FARMacia: Mobile Food Pantry to Reduce Household Food Insecurity in Pediatric Primary Care

Abstract

Despite recommendations for systematic food insecurity screening in pediatric primary care, feasible interventions in clinical settings are lacking. The goal of this study was to examine reach, feasibility, and retention in Food FARMacia, a pilot clinically based food insecurity intervention among children aged <6 years. We examined electronic health record data to assess reach and performed a prospective, longitudinal study of families in Food FARMacia (May 2019 to January 2020) to examine attendance and retention. We used descriptive statistics and bivariate analyses to assess outcomes. Among 650 pediatric patients, 172 reported household food insecurity and 50 registered for Food FARMacia (child mean age 22 ± 18 months; 88% Hispanic/Latino). Demographic characteristics of Food FARMacia participants were similar to those of the target group. Median attendance rate was 75% (10 sessions) and retention in both the study and program was 68%. Older child age (retention: age 26.7 ± 18.7 months vs. attrition: age 12.1 ± 13.8 months, p = 0.01), Hispanic/Latino ethnicity (retention: 97% vs. attrition: 69%, p < 0.01), and larger household size (retention: 4.5 ± 1.1 vs. attrition: 3.7 ± 1.4, p = 0.04) correlated with retention. A clinically based mobile food pantry pilot program and study reached the target population and were feasible.

Association of a primary care‐based mobile food pantry with child body mass index: A propensity score matched cohort study

“…Similar to our previously reported data on the initial Food FARMacia participant cohort, 23 mean attendance for the current study sample was nine sessions, and median attendance was 10 sessions (range 0–14 sessions; Table S5). In the dose–response analysis, each Food FARMacia session attended was associated with a smaller increase in the BMI z score (adjusted DiD −0.03; 95% −0.05 to −0.01).…”

“…West Side Campaign Against Hunger (WSCAH), a community‐based organization, operated the Food FARMacia. The conceptual framework, study design, and intervention have been described in detail 23 . In brief, to be eligible for Food FARMacia, participants had (1) a positive clinical screen for food insecurity or other social need; and (2) a child receiving routine care at Washington Heights Family Health Center (WHFHC) under age 6 years.…”

“…The conceptual framework, study design, and intervention have been described in detail. 23 In brief, to be eligible for Food FARMacia, participants had (1) a positive clinical screen for food insecurity or other social need; and (2) a child receiving routine care at Washington Heights Family Health Center Fruits and vegetables provided were predominantly fresh, local, and seasonal. The food selected provided approximately 12 meals per household member for up to five household members.…”

Satisfaction with a meal kit delivery program and feasibility of a phase I trial in the intervening in food insecurity to reduce and mitigate (InFoRM) childhood obesity study

“…In a nonrandomized trial, Food FARMacia piloted a mobile food pantry intervention among families (N = 50) with children <6 years old in New York City, USA; the food security intervention, recruitment and retention were feasible, with a similar attendance rate >70% for most participants. 17 A meal kit program pilot (N = 36) in Florida, USA, for African-American families with low incomes found the program was implementable and acceptable; meal kits were required to be picked up and utilization ranged from 80.6% to 97.2%. 18 In our cohort, 95% of families prepared at least one meal kit recipe.…”

The potential role of social care in reducing childhood obesity

“…In a study of 64 children aged <19 years, each additional weekly plant-based food package provided by a clinically-based food pantry was associated with a decrease in BMI of −0.04 kg/m 2 (95% CI, −0.08 kg/m 2 to −0.01 kg/m 2 ) among children ages 2–18 years over a 1-year study period [68 ▪ ]. In another study of a clinically-based mobile food pantry program for pediatric primary care patients ages <5 years with household food insecurity, pediatric participants had smaller increases in BMI-z scores than counterparts not in the program (adjusted DiD −0.31; 95% CI: −0.54 to −0.08) [69 ▪ ,70]. These studies are limited by nonrandomized design with small sample sizes.…”