568 - Interventions to Manage Food Insecurity and Inappropriate Feeding Practices Related to The COVID-19 Pandemic (AMISTAD: AliMentacion, Inseguridad, Servicios, Tratamientos, Asistencia, Desarrollo)

Poster Number: 568
Publication Number: 568.240

Megan J. Gray, University of Texas at Austin Dell Medical School, Austin, TX, United States; Ana Avalos, University of Texas at Austin Dell Medical School, Austin, TX, United States; Keli Hawthorne, Dell Medical School at the University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, United States; Gabriella M. Toral Garcia, University of Texas at Austin Dell Medical School, Austin, TX, United States; Lizbeth Martinez, University of Texas at Austin Dell Medical School, Watauga, TX, United States; STEVEN A. ABRAMS, University of Texas at Austin Dell Medical School, AUSTIN, TX, United States

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated food insecurity (FI) in the US, especially among low-income Hispanic families with children. FI is associated with childhood malnutrition; families experiencing FI may use inappropriate feeding practices such as over-dilution of formula and early introduction of cow’s milk or solids. This already vulnerable population faces difficulty navigating food access programs and emergency food resources; technology access is a major barrier and serves as a “super” social determinant of health. In addition to resources for FI, there is a need to identify the best delivery methods to support family food literacy and improve child nutrition, particularly as the COVID-19 pandemic continues.

Objective: To explore FI in children from lower-income Hispanic families in Central Texas, and to assess the effectiveness of intensive case management support to mitigate FI, improve food literacy, and decrease child malnutrition.

Design/Methods: Hispanic parents of young children were screened for FI at a large FQHC in Austin, TX. 59 parents with FI completed questionnaires on dietary intake and community resource use and continued case management with a bilingual resource navigator for a period of six months. Families were provided resources for immediate food access and healthy feeding practices and connection to benefit programs. A subset of parents (21) completed a qualitative interview on themes related to their experiences around food, household food access, and coping strategies. Dietary intake, anthropometrics, overall FI and resource efficacy, and hemoglobin and lead were assessed at baseline and six months.

Results: 91.4% of participants had lower household income during the pandemic; 78% decreased meal sizes or skipped meals in the last 12 months; 67.8% ate less due to a lack of money. 32% reported saving formula in the fridge to re-feed later. 52% wanted help with WIC, SNAP, or food banks. 81% of mothers made household food decisions; 48% turned to friends or family when they ran out of food. 48% had looked for recipes online or in videos, but a notable theme in interviews was a lack of digital technology skills: some without email or the ability to navigate benefit websites. Data collection on intervention effectiveness and nutrition (anthropometrics, hemoglobin) is ongoing.Conclusion(s): The COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect families experiencing FI through job loss, illness, and changes in benefit programs. Technology training and intensive support are essential for engaging with health-related resources, improving family food literacy, and for preventing child malnutrition.