A market in mealtimes: social and economic factors associated with meal provision in Early Care and Education (ECE) services

The objective of this study was to assess the way in which the competitive economic market of Early Care and Education programs is associated with mealtime provision across communities with varying risk for food insecurity. We conducted correlation and regression analyses of data extracted from public data sets (2018-2020) to assess the association, at community level, of meal provision in ECE services with child development outcomes, population indices of disadvantage, ECE fee structure and market competition. The study was undertaken in the State of Queensland, Australia in which there is a diverse population of approximately 5 million people and 1623 ECE services located, across remote, regional and metropolitan locations. Data from all ECE services in Queensland Australia where full data was available was utilised (N=1601). We found that ECE services in socially disadvantage communities were less likely to provide food and more likely to have lower fees. Higher market competition, occurring in metropolitan areas, was associated with increased likelihood of meal provision in disadvantaged communities but with continued constraint on fees. We conclude that the competitive market works contrary to the potential for ECE services to promote public health and support child nutrition. Children living in disadvantaged communities, where food insecurity is inevitably higher, are least likely to have meals provided by their ECE service. Market competition increases likelihood of meal provision yet in disadvantaged communities parent ability to pay constrains fees. Investigation of food quality in this context is required. The findings indicate the need for systemic change to enable high quality food provision in ECE services located in communities at high risk of food insecurity.