The goal of this clinical trial is to understand if monthly food support increases food security in food insecure households. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Does monthly food support increase household food security? * Does monthly food support reduce stress, increase dietary diversity, and improve self-reported wellness in recipients? Researchers will compare households receiving monthly food support to households that do not receive study-related food support. Participants will complete questionnaires regarding food insecurity, stress, wellness, and dietary diversity at baseline and after 3 months.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
45
A monthly box of food shipped to a household that preferentially contains traditional protein such as moose meat or salmon. Additional food items included to compliment the protein for preparing meals, such as rice or canned vegetables. The monthly value of the food box contents will be $100, $200, or $250 depending on household size (\<5 people, 5-10 people, and \>10 people). Food support will be provided for 3 months prior to assessing outcomes. Households will continue to receive food support in both arms (intervention and wait list) after the study ends.
Food security
Household Hunger Scale, US Agency for International Development. Participant reported 30-day look back at household food security using 9 frequency-of-occurrence questions (rarely, sometimes, or often). Responses tabulated into household hunger score (little/no, moderate, severe hunger).
Time frame: Assessed at baseline and after 3 months of food support or wait list condition
Dietary diversity
Dietary Diversity Questionnaire developed by the Food and Agriculture Organization. 24-hour recall of foods consumed by the participant to inform yes/no responses to 17 categories of foods (e.g., vitamin A rich fruits, organ meats).
Time frame: At baseline and after 3 months of food support or wait list
Perceived Stress
Perceived Stress Scale. Participant assessed frequency of occurrence of 10 stress-related items during previous month. Composite score yields 3 categories: low, moderate, and high perceived stress.
Time frame: At baseline and following 3 months of food support or wait list
Yup'ik Wellness
Yup'ik Wellness Survey, a 24-item questionnaire spanning domains of physical health, positive social behaviors, traditional foods, spiritual practices, natural environment. Participant reports frequency of each activity (never/almost never, sometimes, often) and importance (not at all important, somewhat important, very important).
Time frame: At baseline and after 3 months of food support or wait list
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