title: Representations of eating and of a nutrition program among female caregivers of children under 5 years old in Tizimin, Yucatan, Mexico.
abstract: This study was carried out between January and April 2008 with 14 caregivers of children younger than 5 years residing in Tizimín city, Mexico. It aimed to understand the social representations of eating and the Programa Oportunidades [Opportunity Program] held by caregivers taking into account their social and cultural context. This qualitative investigation with an ethnographic approach was based on participant observation and semi-structured interviews. Two empirical categories emerged: 1) feeding and 2) an aid. The first refers to the caregivers' representation of eating patterns of children younger than 5 years and the second reveals that the program is considered an aid, which favors and helps caregivers to meet part of their needs. The study achieved the proposed objectives since it enabled us to understand caregivers in the complex task of feeding these children and also to propose strategies in several spheres to improve infant nutrition.
authors.affiliation: Escola de Enfermagem de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo. hasyga15@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Gloria de Los Angeles
authors.initials: Gde L
authors.lastname: Uicab-Pool
authors.forename: Maria das Graças Carvalho
authors.initials: Md
authors.lastname: Ferriani
authors.forename: Romeu
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gomes
authors.forename: Blanca
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pelcastre-Villafuerte
mesh_terms: D017028:Caregivers; D002664:Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004435:Eating; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008800:Mexico