Improving Maternal Health and Birth Outcomes Through FreshRx: A Food-Is-Medicine Intervention

Purpose: Food insecurity has far-reaching consequences for health and well-being, especially during pregnancy and postpartum periods. This study examines a food-is-medicine approach that aimed to reduce food insecurity, maternal stress, depression, anxiety, preterm labor, and low birthweight. Design: Pre-post interventional study of FreshRx: Nourishing Healthy Starts, a pregnancy focused food-is-medicine program led by a local hunger relief organization and obstetrics department. Setting: St. Louis, Missouri, a Midwestern U.S. city with higher-than-average infant mortality, low birthweight, and preterm birth rates. Sample: Participants (N = 125) recruited from a local obstetrics clinic had pregnancies earlier than 24 weeks gestation; spoke English; and were enrolled in Medicaid. At baseline, 67.0% reported very low food security and none reported high food security, while 34.7% indicated depressive symptoms. Intervention: FreshRx included weekly deliveries of fresh food meal kits, nutrition counseling and education, care coordination, and supportive services. Measures: 18-Question U.S. Household Food Security Survey, Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, birthweight, gestational age. Analysis: Single arm pre-post analysis. Results: Average gestational age of 38.2 weeks (n = 84) and birthweight of 6.7 pounds (n = 81) were higher than rates for the general population in the area. For study participants who completed a sixty-day post-partum assessment, 13% (n = 45) indicated maternal depression (P <.01). Conclusion: Food-is-medicine interventions may be an efficient, effective, and equitable tool for improving birth and maternal health outcomes.