Satisfaction with a meal kit delivery program and feasibility of a phase I trial in the intervening in food insecurity to reduce and mitigate (InFoRM) childhood obesity study.

BACKGROUND: Food and nutrition security interventions have been demonstrated to optimize health, prevent and treat chronic diseases among adult populations. Despite the increasing prevalence and intersection of food insecurity and childhood obesity in the United States, there are few food and nutrition security interventions targeted to children and families. OBJECTIVES: The primary purpose of this phase I randomized, crossover trial was to assess the safety, acceptability and satisfaction of a meal kit delivery program among children with obesity living in households with food insecurity. Secondarily, we assessed the feasibility of our study design, recruitment and retention to inform future larger scale trials. METHODS: We delivered 6 weeks of healthy meal kits, which included fresh pre-portioned ingredients and simple picture-based recipes (two recipes/week) in English or Spanish to prepare one-pot, under 30-min meals (after preparation ~ 10 servings/week). RESULTS: Caregivers received and prepared the meal kits and reported overall satisfaction with the meal kit delivery program. CONCLUSION: A meal kit delivery intervention for children with obesity and food insecurity is acceptable and a phase I randomized, crossover trial is feasible.

Evaluating the Implementation of the Connect for Health Pediatric Weight Management Program.

Importance: Adoption of primary care interventions to reduce childhood obesity is limited. Progress in reducing obesity prevalence and eliminating disparities can be achieved by implementing effective childhood obesity management interventions in primary care settings. Objective: To examine the extent to which implementation strategies supported the uptake of research evidence and implementation of the Connect for Health pediatric weight management program. Design, Setting, and Participants: This quality improvement study took place at 3 geographically and demographically diverse health care organizations with substantially high numbers of children living in low-income communities in Denver, Colorado; Boston, Massachusetts; and Greenville, South Carolina, from November 2019 to April 2022. Participants included pediatric primary care clinicians and staff and families with children aged 2 to 12 years with a body mass index (BMI) in the 85th percentile or higher. Exposures: Pediatric weight management program with clinician-facing tools (ie, clinical decision support tools) and family-facing tools (ie, educational handouts, text messaging program, community resource guide) along with implementation strategies (ie, training and feedback, technical assistance, virtual learning community, aligning with hospital performance metrics) to support the uptake. Main Outcomes and Measures: Primary outcomes were constructs from the Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, Maintenance (RE-AIM) Framework examined through parent, clinician, and leadership surveys and electronic health record data to understand the number of children screened and identified, use of the clinical decision support tools, program acceptability, fidelity to the intervention and implementation strategies, and program sustainability. Results: The program screened and identified 18 333 children across 3 organizations (Denver Health, 8480 children [46.3%]; mean [SD] age, 7.97 [3.31] years; 3863 [45.5%] female; Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), 6190 children [33.8%]; mean [SD] age, 7.49 [3.19] years; 2920 [47.2%] female; Prisma Health, 3663 children [20.0%]; mean [SD] age, 7.33 [3.15] years; 1692 [46.2%] female) as having an elevated BMI. The actionable flagging system was used for 8718 children (48%). The reach was equitable, with 7843 children (92.4%) from Denver Health, 4071 children (65.8%) from MGH, and 1720 children (47%) from Prisma Health being from racially and ethnically minoritized groups. The sites had high fidelity to the program and 6 implementation strategies, with 4 strategies (67%) used consistently at Denver Health, 6 (100%) at MGH, and 5 (83%) at Prisma Health. A high program acceptability was found across the 3 health care organizations; for example, the mean (SD) Acceptability of Intervention Measure score was 3.72 (0.84) at Denver Health, 3.82 (0.86) at MGH, and 4.28 (0.68) at Prisma Health. The implementation strategies were associated with 7091 (39%) uses of the clinical decision support tool. The mean (SD) program sustainability scores were 4.46 (1.61) at Denver Health, 5.63 (1.28) at MGH, and 5.54 (0.92) at Prisma Health. Conclusions and Relevance: These findings suggest that by understanding what strategies enable the adoption of scalable and implementation-ready programs by other health care organizations, it is feasible to improve the screening, identification, and management of children with overweight or obesity and mitigate existing disparities.

Helping Us Grow Stronger (HUGS)/Abrazos: a community-based initiative improved perinatal mental health in an urban cohort.

BACKGROUND: Targeted programs aimed at improving maternal mental health, particularly among those exposed to social determinants of health, are increasingly critical since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, yet the impact of such programs is poorly understood. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the impact of a novel, language-concordant community-based program on perinatal mental health. STUDY DESIGN: We conducted a prospective cohort study of peripartum individuals referred to a new community-based intervention known as Helping Us Grow Stronger (HUGS/Abrazos). Participants received up to 4 remote sessions with a cognitive behavioral therapy trained social worker, up to 3 resource navigation sessions with a community health worker, and direct relief with a grocery gift card and care package. Before and after the program, participants completed validated survey instruments to assess mental health and social determinants of health. RESULTS: A total of 178 participants were assessed after program completion, including 133 who were assessed before and after the program. The cohort was composed of 62.9% Hispanic or Latinx participants with a mean age of 29.8 year (standard error of mean, 0.46). There were high rates of food insecurity (111/178; 62.4%), experiences of discrimination (119/178; 66.9%), and SARS-CoV-2 infection (105/178; 59.0%). The program was associated with statistically significant improvements in the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression scores (baseline [mean±standard error of mean], 8.44±0.55 vs 6.77±0.51 after program completion; P=.0001) and Perceived Stress Scale scores (baseline, 15.2±0.74 vs 14.0±0.71; P=.035). Participants exposed to stressors including food insecurity and experiences of discrimination had higher baseline depression, stress, and anxiety scores. Those with experiences of discrimination, food insecurity, and SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy were more likely to have improvements in mental health scores postintervention. CONCLUSION: In this diverse urban cohort, a novel community-based intervention was associated with improvements in depressive symptoms, perceived stress, and anxiety, particularly among those with social determinants of health.

Assessing the market viability of a packaged intensive health behavior and lifestyle treatment.

In the USA, more than 14 million children are impacted by obesity. Despite intensive health behavior and lifestyle treatments being found effective, gaps exist in moving these interventions into widespread use. Focusing on market viability could improve the dissemination and sustainment of interventions. The purpose of this paper is to outline the process and results of our market viability assessment for the Healthy Weight Clinic (HWC), a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-recognized Family Health Weight Program. We conducted a market viability assessment using the Speeding Research-test INTerventions (SPRINT) program to gain insights into the commercialization and marketplace for the HWC. Through the process of customer discovery, we interviewed 50 stakeholders to test our hypotheses pertaining to our business model. Key takeaways were the need for packaged interventions that offer support and training for providers, and interventions that are multidisciplinary and located within the medical home. We also learned that (i) the intervention goals must align with the healthcare organization's performance metrics; (ii) services need to be reimbursable; and (iii) the importance of understanding different customer segments (i.e. program users vs. organization decision-makers) and their unique needs. The market viability assessment is a critical step to transforming the HWC into a viable commercial product. The process we have outlined is replicable by others and by encouraging other teams to design for dissemination we can increase the number of evidence-based, packaged IHBLTs available to children with obesity.

In the USA, more than 14 million children are impacted by obesity but few evidence-based interventions are available in the pediatric primary care setting. Focusing on the market viability of evidence-based, intensive health behavior and lifestyle treatments (IHBLT) could improve their dissemination and sustainment. The purpose of this paper is to outline the process and results of our market viability assessment of an intensive health behavior and lifestyle treatment, the Healthy Weight Clinic (HWC), a recognized Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Family Healthy Weight Program. We enrolled in the Speeding Research-test INTerventions (SPRINT) program to understand how to market the HWC by understanding customers' perspectives. Key takeaways include the need for packaged, multidisciplinary interventions in the medical home, ensuring the intervention is reimbursable and aligned with organization's performance metrics, and the importance of knowing customer segments and their needs. This paper addresses the gap pertaining to the market viability of pediatric IHBLT and provides a real-world example of how to conduct an assessment. Additionally, it outlines the process and provides the steps necessary for other researchers to understand the market forces that may impact the viability of their intervention.

Adapting Connect for Health pediatric weight management program for telehealth in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

BACKGROUND: To address the evolving needs and context changes due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we adapted Connect for Health, an evidence-based, primary care, pediatric weight management intervention. The objective of this study is to describe the planned adaptation process to ensure continued and equitable program uptake during the pandemic. METHODS: Guided by adaptation frameworks, we identified the core functions and forms of Connect for Health and then adapted the intervention in response to a changing healthcare context. We engaged stakeholders and surveyed parents of children with a BMI ≥ 85th percentile and pediatric clinicians and examined their experiences using telehealth for pediatric weight management and needs and preferences. Using multivariable logistic regression, we examined the preferences of parents with limited English proficiency regarding key aspects of pediatric weight management. RESULTS: We surveyed 200 parents and 43% had a primary language of Spanish. Parents wanted care to be a combination of in-person and virtual visits (80%). We found that parents with limited English proficiency had a higher odds ratio of affirming in-person visits are better than virtual visits for ensuring their child's health concern can be taken care of (OR: 2.91; 95% CI: 1.36, 6.21), feeling comfortable when discussing personal information (OR: 3.91; 95% CI: 1.82, 8.43), talking about healthy behaviors and setting goals (OR: 3.09; 95% CI: 1.39, 6.90), and talking about mental health and overall well-being (OR: 4.02; 95% CI: 1.83, 8.87) than parents without limited English proficiency. We surveyed 75 clinicians and 60% felt telehealth was a useful tool to provide care for pediatric weight management. Clinicians felt virtual visits did not pose barriers to all aspects of care. Informed by the surveys and stakeholder input, we made clinician- and family-level adaptations while retaining the program's function. CONCLUSIONS: By engaging stakeholders and adapting the program for telehealth, we optimized the reach and fit of Connect for Health to ensure its continued uptake. We have provided a real-world example of how clinical innovations can evolve and how to systematically plan adaptations in response to changing healthcare contexts. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinicaltrials.gov (NCT04042493), Registered on August 2, 2019.

Costs to Implement a Pediatric Weight Management Program Across 3 Distinct Contexts.

BACKGROUND: The Connect for Health program is an evidence-based program that aligns with national recommendations for pediatric weight management and includes clinical decision support, educational handouts, and community resources. As implementation costs are a major driver of program adoption and maintenance decisions, we assessed the costs to implement the Connect for Health program across 3 health systems that primarily serve low-income communities with a high prevalence of childhood obesity. METHODS: We used time-driven activity-based costing methods. Each health system (site) developed a process map and a detailed report of all implementation actions taken, aligned with major implementation requirements (eg, electronic health record integration) or strategies (eg, providing clinician training). For each action, sites identified the personnel involved and estimated the time they spent, allowing us to estimate the total costs of implementation and breakdown costs by major implementation activities. RESULTS: Process maps indicated that the program integrated easily into well-child visits. Overall implementation costs ranged from $77,103 (Prisma Health) to $84,954 (Denver Health) to $142,721 (Massachusetts General Hospital). Across implementation activities, setting up the technological aspects of the program was a major driver of costs. Other cost drivers included training, engaging stakeholders, and audit and feedback activities, though there was variability across systems based on organizational context and implementation choices. CONCLUSIONS: Our work highlights the major cost drivers of implementing the Connect for Health program. Accounting for context-specific considerations when assessing the costs of implementation is crucial, especially to facilitate accurate projections of implementation costs in future settings.

Stakeholders' perception of factors influencing adoption of a pediatric weight management intervention: a qualitative study.

Background: Childhood obesity is highly prevalent in the United States and disproportionately impacts communities of color and low-income populations; these disparities have worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic. Adoption of effective pediatric weight management interventions (PWMIs) that have been evaluated among low-income diverse populations is needed. The Healthy Weight Clinic PWMI, a package co-developed by the American Academy of Pediatrics and Massachusetts General Hospital, helps health centers establish multidisciplinary Healthy Weight Clinics based on previous randomized controlled trials which demonstrated effectiveness. We sought to identify the factors influencing successful adoption of this PWMI and understand adaptations needed prior to implementation in new sites. Methods: We interviewed 20 stakeholders, 10 from two health centers in Mississippi where the Healthy Weight Clinic PWMI will be piloted (pre-implementation sites) and 10 from health centers that have previously implemented it (sites in maintenance stages). Separate interview guides informed by the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) were developed for the pre-implementation sites and those in maintenance stages, including questions related to adaptations of the PWMI in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Qualitative data analysis was conducted using directed content analysis based on CFIR constructs. Adaptations in response to the pandemic were categorized using Framework for Reporting Adaptations and Modifications-Expanded (FRAME). Results: In pre-implementation sites, an inner setting facilitator mentioned was a positive learning climate. Characteristics of individuals that can facilitate adoption include staff willingness to learn, valuing evidence-based care for childhood obesity, and culturally and weight-sensitive staff. In terms of patient needs and resources (outer setting), social drivers of health are barriers to adoption, but creative solutions were suggested to mitigate these. Other facilitators related to the intervention included its multidisciplinary model and adaptability. Similar themes were elicited from sites in maintenance stages; adaptations brought on by the pandemic, such as telehealth visits and content modification to align with distancing guidelines and the effects of social isolation were also described. Conclusion: Understanding the factors influencing adoption of an evidence-based PWMI informs necessary adaptations and implementation strategies required to facilitate nationwide dissemination of PWMIs, with the goal of reaching the populations most at-risk.

A Health System Framework for Addressing Structural Racism: Mass General Brigham's United Against Racism Initiative.

The legacy of racism and structural inequality has taken a heavy toll on the health care system and the health outcomes of patients and members of community catchment areas. To achieve optimal health outcomes for all, health systems will need to enact structural change that is meaningful, measurable, and rooted in evidence. We describe an antiracism campaign organized into three pillars of focus (Leadership/Employees/Culture, Patient Care Equity, and Community Health and Policy Advocacy) and implemented across Mass General Brigham, a large integrated health system in the northeast of the United States. Our study ranges from the foundational to the aspirational and examples of data-driven areas of focus, programs (e.g., staff education, social risk mitigation, and new models of clinical service), and metrics developed for the health care workforce, patients, and surrounding communities are presented.

Expectant fathers' health behaviors, infant care intentions, and social-emotional wellbeing in the perinatal period: A latent class analysis and comparison to mothers.

While parental behaviors during the 'first thousand days' are critical for child health, little is known about fathers during this time. We examined prenatal patterns of health behaviors, social-emotional wellbeing, and infant care intentions among expectant fathers, both overall and compared to expectant mothers. Among 227 mother-father dyads enrolling in a randomized controlled trial of a perinatal obesity prevention program in Boston, Massachusetts (July 2020-July 2022), participants independently completed baseline surveys addressing (1) health behaviors, (2) social emotional wellbeing, and (3) infant care intentions. We compared paternal and maternal responses to survey items within each of these domains. Further, we conducted a latent class analysis of paternal responses and examined their associations with sociodemographic characteristics. Compared to expectant mothers, fathers were more likely to report increased body mass index, less fruit intake, decreased sleep, increased physical activity, and no recent primary care visit. Latent class analysis revealed four distinct groups of paternal health behaviors and infant care intentions: (1) more health behaviors with less infant care; (2) less health behaviors with less infant care; (3) less health behaviors with more infant care; and (4) more health behaviors with more infant care. Fathers with increased health behaviors were more likely to have higher education and income. Fathers with decreased health behaviors were more likely to endorse food insecurity, housing insecurity, and social isolation. Our findings identify potential areas for targeting expectant fathers in health promotion initiatives and suggest that social needs may impact the capacity to adopt healthy lifestyle behaviors.

The association of food insecurity on body mass index change in a pediatric weight management intervention.

BACKGROUND: Childhood obesity is a critical public health concern. One potential determinant to obesity that is less understood is food insecurity. OBJECTIVE: To examine the association of food security status on body mass index (BMI) change in a Pediatric Weight Management Intervention (PWMI) consistent with national treatment recommendations. METHODS: This analysis included 201 participants from the Healthy Weight Clinic (HWC). Using linear mixed models, we compared BMI and %BMIp95 change per year between the food insecure group and food secure group, adjusting for baseline BMI, age and sex, and SNAP enrolment. RESULTS: In fully adjusted models, children in households with food insecurity had a 0.50 (0.26-0.74) kg/m2 BMI increase per year and a 2.10 (1.02-3.19) %BMIp95 increase per year compared to households that were food secure. CONCLUSIONS: When comparing the BMI effect of the HWC between the food insecure group and food secure group, those experiencing food insecurity in the HWC had an increase in BMI compared to those with food security. These findings suggest that food insecurity may reduce the effectiveness of PWMIs consistent with national recommendations; however, more studies should be conducted to better understand this relationship.

Human-centered designed communication tools for obesity prevention in early life.

Objective: How we communicate about obesity is critical as treatment paradigms shift upstream. We previously identified parental perceptions, concerns, beliefs, and communication preferences about early life obesity risk. We engaged parents of children 0 to 24 months of age and pediatricians from Indianapolis, Indiana, USA in the co-design of messages and tools that can be used to facilitate parent/provider conversations about early life obesity prevention. Methods: From April to June 2021, we conducted a series of co-design workshops with parents of children ages 0 to 24 months and pediatricians to identify their preferences for communicating obesity prevention in the setting of a pediatric well visit. Human-centered design techniques, including affinity diagraming and model building, were used to inform key elements of a communication model and communication strategy messages. These elements were combined and refined to create prototype tools that were subsequently refined using stakeholder feedback. Results: Parent participants included 11 mothers and 2 fathers: 8 white, 4 black, and 1 Asian; median age 33 years with 38% reporting annual household incomes less than $50,000. Pediatricians included 7 female and 6 male providers; 69% white. Through an iterative process of co-design, we created an exam room poster that addresses common misconceptions about infant feeding, sleep and exercise, and a behavior change plan to foster parent/provider collaboration focused on achieving children's healthy weight. Conclusions: Our hands-on, collaborative approach may ultimately improve uptake, acceptability and usability of early life obesity interventions by ensuring that parents remain at the center of prevention efforts.

Plant-Based Family Food Packages and Weight Change in Children During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Food insecurity and obesity coexist among children and families. We examined the association between receipt of plant-based family food packages from the Massachusetts General Hospital Revere Food Pantry and change in body mass index (BMI), adjusted for age and sex, among children during the COVID-19 pandemic. Among 35 children aged 2 to 18 years who received the packages between January 2021 and February 2022, we observed a change in BMI of -0.04 kg/m2 (95% CI, -0.08 kg/m2 to -0.01 kg/m2) for each package received. Our results suggest plant-based food packages might mitigate, and potentially reverse, BMI increase in children in households seeking food assistance.

Association between unmet social needs and healthy lifestyle parenting behaviors.

Objective: To examine cross-sectional associations of food and housing security risks and healthy lifestyle parenting behaviors related to nutrition and physical activity among families with children with overweight/obesity. Methods: We surveyed 407 parents of children ages 6-12 years with overweight/obesity. Exposures were measures of food and housing insecurity risk. Outcomes were healthy lifestyle parenting behaviors related to nutrition and physical activity. Logistic regression models for each exposure-outcome relationship were adjusted for parental educational attainment, parental cohabitation status, household size, and household income. Results: In multivariable-adjusted models, food insecurity was associated with significantly lower odds of parent modeling exercise {aOR 0.60 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.37, 0.96]} and parent modeling eating healthy foods [aOR 0.42 (95% CI: 0.24, 0.73)]. Housing insecurity was associated with significantly lower odds of parent modeling exercise [aOR 0.57 (95% CI: 0.35, 0.95)]. Conclusions: Food insecurity and housing insecurity may be barriers to parents adopting and modeling healthy lifestyle parenting behaviors related to physical activity and nutrition.

Protocol for the implementation of a statewide mobile addiction program.

With overdose deaths increasing, improving access to harm reduction and low barrier substance use disorder treatment is more important than ever. The Community Care in Reach® model uses a mobile unit to bring both harm reduction and clinical care for addiction to people experiencing barriers to office-based care. These mobile units provide many resources and services to people who use drugs, including safer consumption supplies, naloxone, medication for substance use disorder treatment, and a wide range of primary and preventative care. This protocol outlines the evaluation plan for the Community in Care® model in MA, USA. Using the RE-AIM framework, this evaluation will assess how mobile services engage new and underserved communities in addiction services and primary and preventative care.

Keys to Achieving Clinically Important Weight Loss: Perceptions of Responders and Nonresponders in the Clinic and Community Approaches to Healthy Weight Trial.

Background: Despite modest mean body mass index (BMI) improvements in pediatric weight management interventions (PWMIs), some children are more and less successful in achieving a healthier weight. We sought to understand key behavior modifications and strategies used to overcome barriers that led to success or nonresponse. Methods: Using a semistructured guide, we conducted interviews in English and Spanish to explore the perspectives of caregivers whose children responded (BMI z-score change of greater than or equal to -0.2 units over 1 year) or did not respond (≥5% increase in % of the 95th percentile for BMI over 1 year) to a PWMI. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and then coded using the framework approach. Researchers met regularly to review coding, content, and emerging themes. Results: We reached thematic saturation after interviewing the caregivers of 14 responders and 16 nonresponders and identified 7 themes as key elements of a positive response: (1) positive parenting approach; (2) application and practice of new information; (3) higher agency for change; (4) management of unmet social needs through creative solutions; (5) promoting mindful eating; (6) family alignment on health behaviors; and (7) mitigation of weight stigma. Conclusion: The effectiveness of PWMI may be enhanced by incorporating curricular elements that specifically promote the approaches identified among responders in this study. Similarly, lessons can be learned from nonresponders, so clinicians can identify and help early on when behaviors associated with nonresponse are seen. Clinical Trial Registration number: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT03012126.

Development and Psychometric Properties of the Sleep Parenting Scale for Infants.

Although infants' sleep behaviors are shaped by their interactions with parents at bedtime, few tools exist to capture parents' sleep parenting practices. This study developed a Sleep Parenting Scale for Infants (SPS-I) and aimed to (1) explore and validate its factorial structure, (2) examine its measurement invariance across mothers and fathers, and (3) investigate its reliability and concurrent and convergent validity. SPS-I was developed via a combination of items modified from existing scales and the development of novel items. Participants included 188 mothers and 152 mother-father dyads resulting in 340 mothers and 152 fathers; about half were non-Hispanic white. Mothers and fathers completed a 14-item SPS-I for their 12-month-old infant. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) were used to explore and validate SPS-I's underlying structure. Multigroup CFA was used to examine measurement invariance across mothers and fathers. Reliability was examined using Cronbach's alpha. Concurrent validity was assessed using linear regressions examining associations between SPS-I factors and parent-reported infants nighttime sleep duration. Convergent validity was assessed using paired-sample t-tests to test whether the SPS-I subscale scores were similar between mothers and fathers in the same household. EFA and CFA confirmed a 3-factor, 12-item model: sleep routines, sleep autonomy, and screen media in the sleep environment. SPS-I was invariant across mothers and fathers and was reliable. Concurrent and convergent validity were established. SPS-I has good psychometric properties, supporting its use for characterizing sleep routines, sleep autonomy, and screen media in the sleep environment by mothers and fathers.Supplemental data for this article is available online at https://doi.org/10.1080/08964289.2021.2002799 .

Household food insecurity is associated with obesogenic health behaviours among a low-income cohort of pregnant women in Boston, MA.

OBJECTIVE: To examine associations of household food insecurity with health and obesogenic behaviours among pregnant women enrolled in an obesity prevention programme in the greater Boston area. DESIGN: Cross-sectional evaluation. Data were collected from structured questionnaires that included a validated two-item screener to assess household food insecurity. We used separate multivariable linear and logistic regression models to quantify the association between household food insecurity and maternal health behaviours (daily consumption of fruits and vegetables, sugar-sweetened beverages and fast food, physical activity, screen time, and sleep), mental health outcomes (depression and stress), hyperglycaemia status and gestational weight gain. SETTING: Three community health centres that primarily serve low-income and racial/ethnic minority patients in Revere, Chelsea and Dorchester, Massachusetts. PARTICIPANTS: Totally, 858 pregnant women participating in the First 1,000 Days program, a quasi-experimental trial. RESULTS: Approximately 21 % of women reported household food insecurity. In adjusted analysis, household food insecurity was associated with low fruit and vegetable intake (ß = -0·31 daily servings; 95 % CI -0·52, -0·10), more screen time (ß = 0·32 daily hours; 95 % CI 0·04, 0·61), less sleep (ß = -0·32 daily hours; 95 % CI -0·63, -0·01), and greater odds of current (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 4·42; 95 % CI 2·33, 8·35) or past depression (AOR 3·01; 95 % CI 2·08, 4·35), and high stress (AOR 2·91; 95 % CI 1·98, 4·28). CONCLUSIONS: In our sample of mostly low-income, racial/ethnic minority pregnant women, household food insecurity was associated with mental health and behaviours known to increase the likelihood of obesity.

Associations of Maternal Consumption of Sugary Beverages in Pregnancy With Infant Weight Status.

OBJECTIVES: To examine associations of maternal consumption of 100% juice and sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) in the third trimester of pregnancy with infant weight status at 6 and 12 months. METHODS: We studied 379 mother-infant dyads from Rise & SHINE, a prospective cohort study. Exposures were maternal consumption of 100% juice and SSBs in the third trimester. Outcome measures were infant weight-for-length (WFL) z-scores at 6 and 12 months and rapid infant weight gain (RIWG; change in weight-for-age z-score ≥0.67) from birth to 6 and 12 months. RESULTS: Mean (SD) maternal age was 32.8 (5.1) years; 71.7% reported household income ≥$50,000. In the third trimester, nearly daily or daily consumption of 100% juice and SSBs was 25.9% and 16.6%, respectively. Mean (SD) WFL z-scores at 6 and 12 months were 0.35 (0.96) and 0.50 (0.98). RIWG was present in 30.2% and 36.6% of infants from birth to 6 months and birth to 12 months, respectively. In multivariable models, 100% juice consumption was associated with higher WFL z-score at 6 months (ß = 0.26; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.03, 0.49) and higher odds of RIWG from birth to 6 months (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 2.09; 95%CI: 1.23, 3.56) and birth to 12 months (aOR = 1.85; 95%CI: 1.04, 3.28). 100% juice consumption was not associated with WFL z-score at 12 months and SSB consumption was not associated with any of the outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Consumption of 100% juice, but not SSBs, in the third trimester of pregnancy is associated with infant weight status at 6 months and RIWG.

Mobile Health Services for COVID-19: Counseling, Testing, and Vaccination for Medically Underserved Populations.

Mobile health units can improve access to preventive health services, especially for medically underserved populations. However, there is little published experience of mobile health units being used to expand access to COVID-19 vaccination. In concert with local public health departments and community members, we implemented a mobile COVID-19 health unit and deployed it to 12 predominantly low-income and racial/ethnic minority communities in Massachusetts. We describe the success and challenges of this innovative program in expanding access to COVID-19 vaccination. (Am J Public Health. 2022;112(11):1556-1559. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2022.307021).

Multi-sector stakeholder's perceptions of determinants of successful implementation of a pediatric weight management intervention.

Background: Multi-sector stakeholder engagement is essential in the successful implementation, dissemination, and sustainability of pediatric weight management interventions (PWMI), particularly in low-income settings where sustainability relies on external policies and reimbursement. The objective of this study was to engage stakeholders (1) to inform the creation of the intervention with adaptations needed for a successful PWMI in a primary care and community setting and (2) to identify barriers and facilitators to implementation and dissemination. Methods: We sought to examine the perspectives of local, state, and national clinic and community stakeholders during the pre-implementation period of a two-arm, randomized trial of a Health Weight Clinic PWMI conducted in two health centers and a modified-Healthy Weight and Your Child PWMI at two local YMCAs that serve a predominantly lower income, Hispanic community. The Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research interview guide served as a template for the study but was modified to fit the PWMIs and the various professional roles. Interviews were transcribed and analyzed using the framework analysis approach and themes were linked to the CFIR domains and constructs. Results: Twenty-six stakeholders perceived the following as needed components of a PWMI: a formal curriculum with illustrative examples, a patient- and family-centered program, group visits, and high-quality multidisciplinary personnel. These findings led to the creation of a group visit curriculum, implementation trainings and cross-site collaborative technical assistance. Additionally, creating partnerships between community and clinical organizations, and addressing patient barriers and unmet social needs (i.e., transportation, food) were identified as facilitators to successful implementation. These results led to the creation of community resource guides, connections to community organizations, and screening and referring for unmet social needs. Perceived facilitators of dissemination included proving cost-effectiveness of the PWMI to inform insurance reimbursement for long-term sustainability. Therefore, we collected cost data and engaged with Medicaid officials to discuss reimbursement. Conclusion: Findings highlight the importance of engaging multi-sector stakeholders pre-implementation to ensure the components valued are included, ensuring the program minimizes barriers to participation, considering how staff training can improve implementation and how collected outcomes can inform sustainability and dissemination of PWMIs in clinic and community settings.