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

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.

Automated summary

This study examines a clinically based food insecurity intervention and evaluates its reach, feasibility, and retention through electronic health record data analysis and a prospective longitudinal study. The intervention achieved good participation and retention rates among the target population.