Healthy Food Subsidy Project in Chile

NCT06865157 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: 5128637
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 30
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Feasibility Study Objective: The objective of this feasibility study is to develop and evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of a healthy food subsidy program within the Chilean context. The program, called Healthy Wallet, is a smartphone app-based initiative aimed at incentivizing low-income families to purchase fruits and vegetables at open markets. The findings from this study are intended to inform and potentially accelerate the implementation of similar policies in other countries. Methods: This study assessed the feasibility of implementing the Healthy Wallet subsidy program, designed to promote healthy eating habits among low-income families. The program incentivized the purchase of fruits and vegetables at local ferias (open markets) and was delivered through a smartphone application. The research adopted a community-based approach, leveraging existing social support systems to identify eligible beneficiaries and streamline the distribution of benefits. Open markets served as redemption sites for the subsidies. The study engaged 30 families and 8 vendors in an 8-week pilot program conducted from June to August 2024. Data collection included pre- and post-implementation surveys, as well as focus group discussions: three with participating families and one with vendors. These methods aimed to evaluate the app's effectiveness, user experience, and overall feasibility of the program. Insights from the study will guide recommendations for scaling the initiative to a national level and beyond.

Conditions

Feasibility Studies; Food Security

Keywords

Chile; Fruit and vegetables subsidy; Feasibility study

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (10)

• Percentage of the monetary subsidy spent daily by each household, based on the records from the subsidy delivery platform.

  Percentage of the monetary subsidy spent daily by each household, based on the records from the subsidy delivery platform.

  Daily throughout the two months of follow-up

• Percentage of households that used the monetary subsidy at least once per month, based on the records from the subsidy delivery platform

  Percentage of households that used the monetary subsidy at least once per month, based on the records from the subsidy delivery platform

  Weekly throughout the two months of follow-up

• Perceived utility of the subsidy program among beneficiaries, evaluated through online surveys

  Perceived utility of the subsidy program among beneficiaries, evaluated through online surveys (Likert scale)

  At the end of the study, at two months of follow-up

• Perceived utility of the subsidy program among vendors, evaluated through online surveys

  Perceived utility of the subsidy program among vendors, evaluated through online surveys (Yes/No questionnaire)

  At the end of the study, at two months of follow-up

• Self-reported satisfaction of the subsidy program among beneficiaries, evaluated through focus groups

  Self-reported satisfaction of the subsidy program among beneficiaries, evaluated through focus groups

  At the end of the study, at two months of follow-up

• Self-reported satisfaction of the subsidy program among vendors, evaluated through focus groups

  Self-reported satisfaction of the subsidy program among vendors, evaluated through focus groups

  At the end of the study, at two months of follow-up

• Perceived utility of the subsidy platform among beneficiaries, evaluated through online surveys

  Perceived utility of the subsidy program among beneficiaries, evaluated through online surveys (Likert scale)

  At the end of the study, at two months of follow-up

• Perceived utility of the subsidy platform among vendors, evaluated through online surveys

  Perceived utility of the subsidy program among vendors, evaluated through online surveys (Yes/No questionnaire)

  At the end of the study, at two months of follow-up

• Self-reported satisfaction of the subsidy platform among beneficiaries, evaluated through focus groups

  Self-reported satisfaction of the subsidy platform among beneficiaries, evaluated through focus groups

  At the end of the study, at two months of follow-up

• Self-reported satisfaction of the subsidy platform among vendors, evaluated through focus groups

  Self-reported satisfaction of the subsidy platform among vendors, evaluated through focus groups

  At the end of the study, at two months of follow-up

Other Outcomes (11)

• Self-reported monthly expenditure on all fruits purchased from the open market, based on a questionnaire

  At baseline and at the end of the study (0 and 2 months of follow-up)

• Self-reported monthly expenditure on all vegetables purchased at the open market, based on a questionnaire

  At baseline and at the end of the study (0 and 2 months of follow-up)

• Self-reported monthly expenditure on all fruits and vegetables combined, purchased from the open market, based on a questionnaire

  At baseline and at the end of the study (0 and 2 months of follow-up)

Study Arms (1)

Healthy Wallet

EXPERIMENTAL

Each eligible household receives a monthly electronic transfer of 16,000 CLP (approximately USD 17) per eligible member to purchase fruits and vegetables from authorized vendors at the Juan Pinto Durán open market. A dedicated mobile application manages the process by crediting the benefit to participants' accounts, simplifying its use at the market, and ensuring seamless payment to vendors.

Other: Healthy Wallet

Interventions

Healthy Wallet OTHER

The Healthy Wallet program is a mobile-based initiative designed to promote healthy eating among low-income families by incentivizing the purchase of fruits and vegetables at open markets. Over a two-month period, 30 families received monthly benefits to use at a designated open market.

Healthy Wallet

Eligibility Criteria

• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Child (0-17), Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Households that are beneficiaries of the Bolsillo Familiar Electrónico program in 2023-2024 and have children under 5 years of age.
• Availability to shop at the local open-air market (feria libre).

You may not qualify if:

• Individuals who are market vendors (feria vendors).

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Chile: lead
• Bloomberg Philanthropies: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Feria Libre Juan Pinto Durán

Santiago, Macul, 7830490, Chile

Location

Related Publications (3)

• Huangfu P, Pearson F, Abu-Hijleh FM, Wahlich C, Willis K, Awad SF, Abu-Raddad LJ, Critchley JA. Impact of price reductions, subsidies, or financial incentives on healthy food purchases and consumption: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Lancet Planet Health. 2024 Mar;8(3):e197-e212. doi: 10.1016/S2542-5196(24)00004-4.

  PMID: 38453385 BACKGROUND

• Andreyeva T, Marple K, Moore TE, Powell LM. Evaluation of Economic and Health Outcomes Associated With Food Taxes and Subsidies: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. JAMA Netw Open. 2022 Jun 1;5(6):e2214371. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.14371.

  PMID: 35648401 BACKGROUND

• Berkowitz SA, Curran N, Hoeffler S, Henderson R, Price A, Ng SW. Association of a Fruit and Vegetable Subsidy Program With Food Purchases by Individuals With Low Income in the US. JAMA Netw Open. 2021 Aug 2;4(8):e2120377. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.20377.

  PMID: 34379125 BACKGROUND

Study Officials

• Camila Corvalan, PhD

  Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology, University of Chile

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NA
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: OTHER
• Intervention Model: SINGLE GROUP
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Model Details: The Healthy Wallet program is a mobile-based initiative designed to promote healthy eating among low-income families by incentivizing the purchase of fruits and vegetables at open markets. Over the course of two months, 30 families received monthly benefits redeemable at participating stalls within the Juan Pinto Durán open market in Santiago, Chile. Registered vendors prominently displayed a distinctive Healthy Wallet identification sign with a unique code, ensuring easy identification. Beneficiaries used the mobile app to check their available funds and complete purchases by entering the stall code. Meanwhile, vendors utilized their own app to track sales and maintain transaction records, streamlining the invoicing process.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: November 21, 2024
• First Posted: March 7, 2025
• Study Start: May 15, 2024
• Primary Completion: August 19, 2024
• Study Completion: October 30, 2024
• Last Updated: March 7, 2025

Record last verified: 2024-12

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will share
• Shared Documents: STUDY PROTOCOL, SAP, ICF
• Time Frame: 6 months after publication of primary results
• Access Criteria: Access to IPD data will be available for qualified researchers for scientific purposes that meet specific criteria: ethical, security and administrative criteria

Locations

CL (1)