Barriers and Facilitators to Improve Fruit and Vegetable Intake Among WIC-Eligible Pregnant Latinas: An Application of the Health Action Process Approach Framework

Objective: Identify barriers and facilitators to improve prenatal fruit and vegetable (F&V) intake among Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)-eligible Latinas using the Health Action Process Approach framework.

Design: Qualitative data were collected via audiotaped in-depth interviews as part of a larger study to design an intervention to increase prenatal F&V intake.

Setting: Hartford, Connecticut.

Participants: Forty-five WIC-eligible Latinas completed the study. Included women were: ≥ 18 years old; in 2nd or 3rd trimester; having a singleton pregnancy; overweight or obese (ie, pregravid body mass index ≥ 25); not on a restricted diet; nonsmokers.

Phenomenon of interest: Prenatal factors that promote and hinder F&V intake.

Analysis: Transcripts were independently read and coded, and a consensus was reached about emerging themes.

Results: Ten factors influenced prenatal F&V intake: social support, family structure, F&V access, F&V preferences, F&V knowledge, F&V health outcome expectations, self-efficacy, intentions, F&V action/coping planning strategies, and maternal health status.

Conclusions and implications: Social support from family/friends emerged as the primary distal factor driving prenatal F&V intake. Interventions designed to empower pregnant Latinas to gain the access, confidence, knowledge, and strategies necessary to consume more F&Vs must consider strengthening support to achieve the desired outcome.