The effects of dietary advice and vouchers on the intake of fruit and fruit juice by pregnant women in a deprived area: a controlled trial.

Full Abstract

OBJECTIVE:
To examine the effectiveness of two methods of increasing fruit and fruit juice intake in pregnancy:
midwives' advice and vouchers exchangeable for juice.

DESIGN:
Pregnant women were randomly allocated to three groups:
a control group, who received usual care; an advice group, given advice and leaflets promoting fruit and fruit juice consumption; and a voucher group, given vouchers exchangeable for fruit juice from a milk delivery firm. Dietary questionnaires were administered at ~16, 20 and 32 weeks of pregnancy. Serum beta-carotene was measured at 16 and 32 weeks.

SETTING:
An antenatal clinic in a deprived area.

SUBJECTS:
Pregnant women aged 17 years and over.

RESULTS:
The study comprised 190 women. Frequency of fruit consumption declined during pregnancy in all groups, but that of fruit juice increased substantially in the voucher group. Serum beta-carotene concentration increased in the voucher group, from 106.2 to 141.8 micromol l(-1) in women with measurements on both occasions (P = 0.003), decreased from 120.0 to 99.8 micromol l(-1) in the control group (P = 0.005), and was unchanged in the advice group.

CONCLUSIONS:
Pregnant women drink more fruit juice if they receive vouchers exchangeable for juice supplied by the milk delivery service. Midwives' advice to eat more fruit has no great effect. Providing vouchers for fruit juice is a simple method of increasing its intake in a deprived population and may be useful for other sections of the community.

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Author information

Author/s: Burr, M L (ML); Trembeth, J (J); Jones, K B (KB); Geen, J (J); Lynch, L A (LA); Roberts, Z E S (ZE);

Affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Statistics and Public Health, Centre for Health Sciences Research, Cardiff University, Neuadd Meirionnydd, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4YS, UK. burrml(-atsign-)cf.ac.uk

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Randomized Controlled Trial; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Public health nutrition (Public Health Nutr), published in England. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2007-Jun; vol 10 (issue 6) : pp 559-65

Dates: Created 2007/06/04; Completed 2007/07/30; Revised 2008/11/21;

PMID: 17381912, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Adolescent
Adult
Beverages - economics
Female
Fruit - economics
Health Promotion - methods
Humans

Humans
Maternal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena - physiology
Midwifery - organization & administration
Nutritional Requirements
Pregnancy
Token Economy
beta Carotene - blood

Associated Chemicals: beta Carotene (7235-40-7)

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