Using focus group results to inform preschool childhood obesity prevention programming.
OBJECTIVE
This study about maternal feeding practices and beliefs was conducted as background for the development of a childhood obesity prevention program for multi-ethnic parents in the USA receiving services from a federal government supplemental nutrition program for low-income mothers.


METHODS
Using a grounded theory approach, focus groups were conducted with low-income African American, white non-Hispanic (i.e. the majority Caucasian American population), Hispanic and Vietnamese parents to collect cross-cultural perspectives on: (a) infant and child feeding practices, (b) childhood overweight, (c) healthy dietary intake, (d) physical activity and inactivity, and (e) infant feeding information sources.


RESULTS
A content analysis of the data yielded three main themes common to all four groups: (a) lack of awareness of the relationship between increased physical activity and health, (b) the use of food to influence behavior, and (c) the loss of parental control over feeding when a child starts child care or school, and revealed perspectives on age-appropriate food, infant satiety, overweight and information sources that were specific to each group.


CONCLUSIONS
Interventions that enhance parent self-efficacy that build on themes that are specific to ethnic groups toward preventing childhood obesity are needed. There is also a need for culturally appropriate information for governmental nutrition programs that is in the client's own language and takes into account ethnic differences in beliefs and traditions.
McGarvey
Elizabeth L
EL
University of Virginia Health System, Department of Psychiatric Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA. REL8S@hscmail.mcc.virginia.edu
Collie
Kate R
KR
Fraser
Gertrude
G
Shufflebarger
Cindy
C
Lloyd
Bronwyn
B
Norman Oliver
M
M
D053198:Child Nutrition Sciences / Q000193:education; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D004032:Diet / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008427:Maternal Health Services / Q000379:methods; D009035:Mothers; D009043:Motor Activity; D009765:Obesity / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016487:Parenting; D011203:Poverty; D044469:Racial Groups; D014768:Virginia