A qualitative process evaluation of universal free school meal provision in two London secondary schools

BMC Public Health

Research

Patricia E. Jessiman¹  Rona Campbell¹  Katie Breheny¹  Judi Kidger¹  Victoria R. Carlisle¹  Russell Jago²  Marcus Robinson³  Steve Strong⁴ 

[1] Department of Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK;Department of Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK;Centre for Exercise, Nutrition & Health Sciences, School for Policy Studies, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK;Applied Research Collaboration West (NIHR ARC West), The National Institute for Health Research, University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust, BS1 2NT, Bristol, UK;London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, Hammersmith, UK;Public co-applicant, PHIRST Insight, Hampshire, UK;

关键词: Food insecurity;    Nutrition;    School;    School Meals;    Qualitative;    Process evaluation;    Adolescence;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12889-023-15082-3

 received in 2022-10-05, accepted in 2023-01-18,  发布年份 2023

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundIn the UK, one in five households with children experienced food insecurity in 2022, defined as a household-level economic and social condition of limited or uncertain access to adequate food. Free school meals are a public health intervention aimed at reducing food insecurity amongst children. The provision of universal free school meals (UFSM) to secondary school-aged children is a novel and untested intervention in the UK. This study is a process evaluation of a pilot of UFSM in two secondary schools in England. The aim was to understand the feasibility, acceptability, cost implications and lessons for the implementation of UFSM.Methods20 parents, 28 students and 8 school staff from two intervention schools participated in online qualitative interviews, as well as 4 staff from non-intervention schools. The Framework Method of thematic analysis was applied. These data were supplemented with student-led observations of school meal times, and school lunch uptake-data and cost information provided by the local authority delivering the pilot.ResultsUFSM in secondary schools is a feasible and acceptable intervention, with coherent goals of increased access to a healthy meal, reduced food insecurity and better nutrition. All participants perceived these goals were met. Acceptability was further enhanced by the perception that UFSM were supporting a greater proportion of low-income families than the national, targeted Free School Meal scheme, as well as being easier to implement. Potential barriers to implementation include limited school kitchen and dining infrastructure, meal quality and choice, and increased queuing times. Participants’ concerns that UFSM may benefit middle- and high- income families not in need were not as prevalent as the perception that UFSM was an effective way to support all families with secondary-aged children experiencing food insecurity.ConclusionThis small-scale pilot study suggests that UFSM in secondary schools is feasible and acceptable, but more evidence is required from larger studies on the impact on long-term health, psychosocial and educational outcomes. Future, larger studies should also include detailed economic evaluations so this approach can be compared with other possible interventions.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© The Author(s) 2023

【 图 表 】

Fig. 7