title: Effect of the introduction of 'Healthy Start' on dietary behaviour during and after pregnancy: early results from the 'before and after' Sheffield study.
abstract: The aim of the study was to examine the effect of the introduction of a new food-support benefit 'Healthy Start' (HS) on dietary intakes and eating patterns of low-income, Caucasian, pregnant and postpartum women living in Sheffield (UK). A before-and-after study comparing nutritional behaviour of participants, who were beneficiaries or eligible for the Welfare Food Scheme (WFS) (phase 1) or HS (phase 2), was conducted. Dietary intakes and eating patterns were assessed using a validated semi-quantified FFQ. In phase 1, 176 WFS subjects (ninety pregnant and eighty-six postpartum) were recruited and in phase 2, there were 160 HS subjects (ninety-six pregnant and sixty-four postpartum). The results suggested that pregnant and postpartum HS women significantly increased their daily intakes of energy, Fe, Ca, folate and vitamin C compared with the WFS women. Observed differences remained significant after controlling for potential confounding effects of known factors, i.e. education and age. HS women were more likely to meet the recommended nutrient intakes for Fe, folate, Ca and vitamin C. HS women ate significantly more mean portions of fruit and vegetables per d (P = 0.004 and P = 0.023) respectively. None of the HS recipients was receiving HS vitamin supplements. The present study showed that pregnant and postpartum HS women increased their food consumption, and a higher proportion of them than the earlier WFS scheme met the recommended intakes for Ca, folate, Fe and vitamin C.
authors.affiliation: Academic Unit of Reproductive and Developmental Medicine, University of Sheffield, the Jessop Wing, Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Tree Root Walk, Sheffield S10 2SF, UK. f.a.ford@sheffield.ac.uk
authors.forename: Fiona A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Ford
authors.forename: Theodora
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mouratidou
authors.forename: Sarah E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Wademan
authors.forename: Robert B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Fraser
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002118:Calcium / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D004032:Diet; D004034:Diet Surveys; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D002149:Energy Intake; D004739:England; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000008:administration & dosage; D018673:Nutrition Policy; D049590:Postpartum Period; D011247:Pregnancy; D011610:Psychosocial Deprivation; D014815:Vitamins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014815:Vitamins; D005492:Folic Acid; D007501:Iron; D002118:Calcium