Fruit and Vegetable Vouchers in Pregnancy: Preliminary Impact on Diet & Food Security
Ronit Ridberg, Sanjana Marpadga, Melissa Akers, Janice F. Bell, Hilary K. Seligman
Abstract
Pregnancy is a critical time period for supporting food security and maternal nutrition because of long-term potential impacts on the developing fetus. We conducted a pre-/post-analysis of pregnant WIC participants (n = 592) in San Francisco receiving $40/month of fruit and vegetable vouchers in addition to the standard WIC package. We compared pre-/post- changes to a comparison group of non-pregnant WIC participants (n = 108) receiving only the standard WIC package. We observed significant improvements in food security and mean daily frequency of total vegetables, combined fruits and vegetables, salad and non-fried potatoes (p < .05 for all comparisons).
Topics & Concepts
VoucherFood securityEnvironmental healthPregnancyMedicineBusinessGeographyBiologyAgricultureAccountingArchaeologyGeneticsFood Security and Health in Diverse PopulationsGender, Labor, and Family DynamicsHomelessness and Social Issues