Has the UK Healthy Start voucher scheme been associated with an increased fruit and vegetable intake among target families? Analysis of Health Survey for England data, 2001–2014

Scantlebury, Rachel; Moody, Alison; Oyebode, Oyinlola; Mindell, Jennifer S.

doi:10.1136/jech-2017-209954

Cited by 17 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…Griffith et al [ 18 ] used a difference-in-differences analysis of household purchase data 2 years before and after programme implementation, reporting a £2.43/month (£0.61/week) increase in FV spending in Healthy Start eligible households compared to ineligible low-income households with a child aged 4–8 years. Scantlebury et al [ 17 ] compared FV intake among adults and children aged 5 years or over from Healthy Start eligible and ineligible households in England, but reported no association between Healthy Start eligibility and individual FV intake following programme introduction. The present finding adds to the current evidence base, indicating that it is unlikely that Healthy Start vouchers had a discernible impact on the dietary behaviours of its target population, for the study period.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Qualitative evaluations have found that Healthy Start vouchers were valued by recipients and helped reduce the experience of food insecurity [ 13 , 14 , 16 ]. However, the only two existing large-scale quantitative evaluations of Healthy Start are in contradiction; reporting a null effect on FV intake [ 17 ] and positive effect on FV purchasing [ 18 ], respectively. These two previous evaluations used eligibility, not participation, as the exposure variable.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Is the healthy start scheme associated with increased food expenditure in low-income families with young children in the United Kingdom?

et al. 2021

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Background Healthy Start is a food assistance programme in the United Kingdom (UK) which aims to provide a nutritional safety-net and enable low-income families on welfare benefits to access a healthier diet through the provision of food vouchers. Healthy Start was launched in 2006 but remains under-evaluated. This study aims to determine whether participation in the Healthy Start scheme is associated with differences in food expenditure in a nationally representative sample of households in the UK. Methods Cross-sectional analyses of the Living Costs and Food Survey dataset (2010–2017). All households with a child (0–3 years) or pregnant woman were included in the analysis (n = 4869). Multivariable quantile regression compared the expenditure and quantity of fruit and vegetables (FV), infant formula and total food purchases. Four exposure groups were defined based on eligibility, participation and income (Healthy Start Participating, Eligible Non-participating, Nearly Eligible low-income and Ineligible high-income households). Results Of 876 eligible households, 54% participated in Healthy Start. No statistically significant differences were found in FV or total food purchases between participating and eligible non-participating households, but infant formula purchases were lower in Healthy Start participating households. Ineligible higher-income households had higher purchases of FV. Conclusion This study did not find evidence of an association between Healthy Start participation and FV expenditure. Moreover, inequalities in FV purchasing persist in the UK. Higher participation and increased voucher value may help to improve programme performance and counteract the harmful effects of poverty on diet.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Is the healthy start scheme associated with increased food expenditure in low-income families with young children in the United Kingdom?

et al. 2021

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Griffith et al(11) used a difference-in-differences analysis of household purchase data two years before and after programme implementation, reporting a £2.43/month (£0.61/week) increase in FV spending in Healthy Start eligible households compared to ineligible low-income households with a child aged 4-8 years. Scantlebury et al(10) compared FV intake among adults and children aged 5 years or over from Healthy Start eligible and ineligible households in England, but reported no association between Healthy Start eligibility and individual FV intake following programme introduction. The present finding adds to the current evidence base, indicating that it is unlikely that Healthy Start vouchers had a discernible impact on the dietary behaviours of its target population.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Qualitative evaluations have found that Healthy Start vouchers were valued by recipients and helped reduce the impact of food insecurity(9). However, the only two existing large-scale quantitative evaluations of Healthy Start are in contradiction; reporting a null effect on FV intake(10) and positive effect on FV purchasing(11), respectively. These two previous evaluations used eligibility, not participation, as the exposure variable.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Is the Healthy Start scheme associated with increased food expenditure in low-income families with young children in the United Kingdom?

Parnham¹,

Millett²,

Chang³

et al. 2020

Preprint

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Introduction: Healthy Start is a food assistance programme in the United Kingdom (UK) which aims to enable low-income families on welfare benefits to access a healthier diet through the provision of food vouchers. Healthy Start was launched in 2006 but remains under-evaluated. This study aims to determine whether participation in the Healthy Start scheme is associated with differences in food expenditure in a nationally representative sample of households in the UK. Methods: Cross-sectional analyses of the Living Costs and Food Survey dataset (2010-2017). All households with a child (0-3 years) or pregnant woman were included in the analysis (n=4,869). Multivariable quantile regression compared the expenditure and quantity of fruit and vegetables (FV), infant formula and total food purchases. Four exposure groups were defined based on eligibility, participation and income (Healthy Start Participating, Eligible Non-participating, Nearly Eligible low-income and Ineligible high-income households). Results: Of 876 eligible households, 54% participated in Healthy Start. No significant differences were found in FV or total food purchases between participating and eligible non-participating households, but infant formula purchases were lower in Healthy Start participating households. Ineligible higher-income households had higher purchases of FV. Conclusion: This study did not find evidence of an association between Healthy Start participation and FV expenditure. Moreover, inequalities in FV purchasing persist in the UK. Higher participation and increased voucher value may be needed to improve programme performance and counteract the harmful effects of poverty on diet.

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“…Vitamin D supplementation and vitamin D food fortification products are useful to combat vitamin D deficiency at any age [ 14 ]. The UK started the “Healthy Start” program in 2006 to provide free vitamin D supplementation vouchers to low-income pregnant women and children to combat vitamin D deficiency [ 15 ]. In Turkey, the “vitamin D prophylaxis augmentation program” started in 2005 to combat vitamin D deficiency in infants.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Adjunctive vitamin D therapy in various diseases in children: a scenario according to standard guideline

et al. 2022

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Background Adherence to standard guidelines is imperative when question comes to disease management. The present study aimed to evaluate the administration of adjunctive vitamin D therapy in various diseases, its adherence to standard guideline and the effect of socioeconomic status on the consumption of vitamin D in children. Methods Cross sectional observational study was conducted among 400 ambulatory pediatric patients at Children’s Hospital, Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences Islamabad, from November 2017 to June 2018. Data were collected by a self-designed structured questionnaire from the patient’s medical chart. Adjunctive vitamin D therapy adherence was evaluated by the U. S endocrinology clinical practice guideline of vitamin D deficiency. The association between socioeconomic status and consumption of vitamin D was examined by chi-square. Alpha value (p ≤ 0.005) was considered statistically significant. Statistical analysis was done by SPSS version 25. Results In 400 patients, 9 diseases and 21 comorbid conditions were identified, in which adjunctive vitamin D therapy was prescribed. Adherence to vitamin D testing in high-risk vitamin D deficiency diseases as; seizures (3.8%), bone deformities (13.3%), steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome (0.0%), cerebral palsy (5.9%) and meningitis (14.3%). Adherence to prescribed vitamin D dose was in (41.3%) patients in various diseases. Significant association (p < 0.05) was found between socioeconomic status and consumption of vitamin D in children and mothers. Conclusions It was found that adjunctive vitamin D was being prescribed in various diseases and comorbidities. Overall poor adherence to the standard guideline was observed in disease management in children. Low socioeconomic status affects vitamin D supplementation consumption in children.

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Has the UK Healthy Start voucher scheme been associated with an increased fruit and vegetable intake among target families? Analysis of Health Survey for England data, 2001–2014

Abstract: Background

Cited by 17 publications

References 20 publications

Is the healthy start scheme associated with increased food expenditure in low-income families with young children in the United Kingdom?

Is the healthy start scheme associated with increased food expenditure in low-income families with young children in the United Kingdom?

Is the Healthy Start scheme associated with increased food expenditure in low-income families with young children in the United Kingdom?

Adjunctive vitamin D therapy in various diseases in children: a scenario according to standard guideline

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