Food and nutrition support for pregnant women facing food insecurity

Fresh RX: Nourishing Healthy Starts Clinical Study

Not applicable Interventional Washington University School of Medicine · NCT04845230

This study is testing a program that gives food and nutrition support to pregnant women in St. Louis who are struggling to get enough to eat, to see if it helps improve their health and the health of their babies.

Quick facts

PhaseNot applicable
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment750 (estimated)
Ages14 Years to 55 Years
SexFemale
SponsorWashington University School of Medicine Academic / other
Locations1 site (St Louis, Missouri)
Trial IDNCT04845230 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This study evaluates the Fresh Rx: Nourishing Healthy Starts program, which provides food and nutrition support to food insecure pregnant women in St. Louis. The program includes access to food support programs, direct food delivery, nutrition education, and integrative care services from a social worker. Participants will be screened for food insecurity and randomly assigned to different conditions to assess the program's efficacy and potential cost savings for the healthcare system. The aim is to improve health and birth outcomes for both mothers and their children.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are pregnant women under 24 weeks gestation, aged 14-55, who are food insecure and receiving care through a Missouri Medicaid managed care organization.

Not a fit: Patients who are not pregnant, do not screen positive for food insecurity, or reside outside the specified Missouri zip codes may not benefit from this program.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this program could significantly improve health outcomes for pregnant women and their infants by addressing food insecurity.

How similar studies have performed: Other studies have shown success in addressing food insecurity and improving maternal and neonatal health outcomes, indicating that this approach has potential.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Female
* Pregnant
* Less than 24 weeks gestation
* Screening positive to a USDA two-item food insecurity screener (described below)
* Receiving care through a Missouri Medicaid managed care organization
* English speaking
* Age 14-55
* Missouri resident residing in the following zip codes: 63031, 63033, 63042, 63074, 63114, 63121, 63130, 63132, 63133, 63135, 63136, 63137, 63138, 63140

Exclusion Criteria:

* Male
* Non-pregnant
* Pregnant, but more than 24 weeks gestation
* Does not screen positive to a USDA two-item food insecurity screener (described below)
* Does not receive care through the Home State Health managed care organization
* Non-English speaking
* Aged less than 14 or more than 55
* Does not reside in the following zip codes: 63031, 63033, 63042, 63074, 63114, 63121, 63130, 63132, 63133, 63135, 63136, 63137, 63138, 63140

Where this trial is running

St Louis, Missouri

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions Premature BirthBirth WeightPost Partum DepressionHealth Care UtilizationNutrition Deficiency Due to Insufficient FoodHousing ProblemsFetal ComplicationsFood Deprivation
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.