(P23-024-25) Methods of an Indigenous Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Intervention Among Native American Families

Objectives: To describe the methods and design of the Indigenous Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) study, which aims to improve diet and health outcomes among Native American (NA) families.

Methods: The Indigenous CSA study is a randomized, wait-list controlled trial using community-based participatory research (CBPR) methods to test a multi-component intervention. The 16-week intervention included weekly delivery of fresh produce boxes, a healthy eating and traditional foods curriculum and cooking workshops, Indigenous cooking demonstration videos, and a kitchen starter kit. Recruitment was completed at the household level. Households were eligible to participate with the following criteria: 1) Resided in Osage Nation; and 2) having at least one adult identifying as NA and categorized as being overweight or obese (Body Mass Index (BMI) ≥ 25 kg/m2). The study outcomes are to improve systolic blood pressure, blood serum lipids, fruit and vegetable intake, BMI, HbA1c, food security, and health status.

Results: A total of 310 households were enrolled in the study. Among those, 298 households completed baseline data collection (96.1%). One hundred and forty-eight households were randomized to the intervention group and 150 households were randomized to the wait-list control group. Among adults, most participants were between the ages of 30 and 49 (43.8%), female (63.0%), and were a high school graduate (27.4%) or received some post-secondary level of education (28.6%). Almost half reported a household income between $25,000 and $70,000 (45.5%) and more than half were employed full-time. More than half reported they were diagnosed with hypertension (52.1%).

Conclusions: To our knowledge, this is one of the first studies to assess the impact of a produce box intervention to improve diet and health outcomes among NA families. This multi-level intervention approach, combined with multiple sources of rigorous data, will offer a comprehensive understanding of the intervention’s impact, which will enable us to provide well-informed recommendations for future food systems interventions in NA communities.

Funding Sources: National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities