EFNEP: A nutrition education program that demonstrates cost-benefit

Objective Data on the economic value of nutrition education programs, such as the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP), can help decision makers choose among alternative programs based on costs and benefits. A cost-benefit analysis of EFNEP was conducted to determine if participants' savings in food expenditures exceeded program implementation costs. Design/subjects Costs were collected over 6 months using expenditure reports and other records. Benefits were determined using prospective data from 371 women enrolled in EFNEP who completed a 24-hour food recall and behavior survey, and recorded the amount of money spent monthly on food at program entry and exit. Two treatment groups received nutrition education and one group did not receive education. One treatment group estimated food expenditures from recall and the other collected register receipts or recorded expenditures. Control group subjects reported expenditures from recall. Net present value (NPV) was calculated using mean EFNEP cost per participant subtracted from the mean change in family food expenditures per participant over a 5-year period at three discount rates. Statistical analyses Analysis was designed to compare food expenditures among the two experimental groups and control group and food and nutrient intakes and survey scores between the combined experimental group and control group. Results The average EFNEP program cost per participant was $388, and graduating participants reported that family food expenditures decreased on average by $10 to $20 per month or $124 to $234 over a year. When benefits were projected to last 5 years, the NPV was $147 to $696 depending on the method of food expenditure estimation and the discount rate. At the same time individuals reduced food expenditures, they increased intakes of iron, vitamin C, vitamin B-6, and fiber. They added less salt when cooking and read nutrition labels more often. They also reported not running out of food at the end of the month as often. Applications/conclusions Findings from this research showed that EFNEP is cost-beneficial. The magnitude of the savings in food expenditures is sensitive to the method of food expenditure reporting and assumptions about how long participants will retain the behaviors they learn.