Engaging a disadvantaged community with a fruit and vegetable box scheme.

Issue Addressed: Interventions which target the determinants of unhealthy diets are required to promote healthy eating and reduce the burdens of diet-related diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes and some cancers.
Methods: Qualitative interviews (n = 12) were conducted to explore the perspectives and experiences of local stakeholders regarding the implementation and uptake of a healthy eating initiative (a fruit and vegetable box scheme) in a disadvantaged, regional community.
Results: Factors affecting the community's engagement included marketing strategies, customer experiences, a community-centred approach, partnerships and logistics.
Conclusions: Community engagement is often essential for an intervention to be effective. The factors which influence community engagement should be considered during planning, especially when targeting disadvantaged groups. SO WHAT?: Behavioural change interventions may continue to be met with limited success if community engagement and the overarching structural barriers to healthy eating are not addressed.
(© 2018 Australian Health Promotion Association.)