Combatting Food Insecurity Through Implementing Food Pantry Amenities in Clinical Settings

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has brought renewed public attention to food insecurity and other social determinants of health. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), food insecurity affects 10.5% of households nationwide. Our study sought to determine the prevalence of food insecurity at the University of Louisville and the effect that implementing food pantry amenities within the clinic has on pregnancy outcomes. METHODS: Institutional review board approval was obtained. We screened pregnant women presenting to our outpatient clinic for prenatal care each trimester. Food security was determined using a modified version of the USDA Adult Food Security Survey over the past 12 months. Women that were determined to be food insecure were provided access to food pantry amenities at each prenatal visit. Screening data were entered in REDCap, then exported into Stata for statistical analysis. RESULTS: Survey data demonstrated that 38% of our patients screened positive for food insecurity. As a result, a total of 5,829 lb of food have been distributed. Secondary outcomes including prenatal care adherence rates, weight gain during pregnancy, pregnancy complications, and birth outcomes will be displayed graphically. CONCLUSION: Rates of food insecurity in our clinic population were three times higher compared to the national average. Formal screening allows providers to better identify families experiencing food insecurity and connect them to food pantry amenities. Importantly, our initiative can serve as a guide for other institutions considering food security interventions. Implementing food pantries in academic institutions nationwide will enhance and inform these innovations to target at-risk populations and provide health equity. [ FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Obstetrics & Gynecology is the property of Lippincott Williams & Wilkins and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full . (Copyright applies to all s.)