title: A qualitative study exploring parental accounts of feeding pre-school children in two low-income populations in the UK.
abstract: Good nutrition in the early years of life is essential, yet the diets of many pre-school children in the UK are known to be poor. Understanding the decisions parents make when feeding young children is very important in determining what type and nature of interventional support may be developed to promote good nutrition. The aim of this study was to explore using qualitative methods, parental perceptions of feeding their children in order to inform the development of a nutrition intervention. Focus groups (n = 33) and individual interviews (n = 6) were undertaken with parents, most of whom were attending children's centres in two deprived populations from one urban (Islington, north London) and one rural (Cornwall) location in England. Accounts of feeding pre-school children were primarily concerned with dealing with the practicalities of modern life, in particular the cost of food and the need to manage on a restricted household budget. Time pressures, a lack of perceived knowledge and confidence in preparing food and managing conflict over food choices between family members were also strong themes. Parents commonly reported differences between how they would like to feed their children and the reality of what they were able to do in their circumstances. These findings suggest that the poor eating habits of many pre-school children may be less a case of parental ignorance but rather the product of a range of coping strategies. Designing an intervention, which helps parents to build their confidence and self-efficacy, may enable them to make positive changes to their children's diets.
authors: Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, London, UK.
authors: Arabella K M
authors: AK
authors: Hayter
authors: School of Life Sciences, University of Westminster, London, UK.
authors: Alizon K
authors: AK
authors: Draper
authors: School of Biomedical and Biological Sciences, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, UK.
authors: Heather R
authors: HR
authors: Ohly
authors: School of Biomedical and Biological Sciences, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, UK.
authors: Gail A
authors: GA
authors: Rees
authors: Faculty of Health, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, UK.
authors: Clare
authors: C
authors: Pettinger
authors: School of Biomedical and Biological Sciences, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, UK.
authors: Pauline
authors: P
authors: McGlone
authors: Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, London, UK.
authors: Richard G
authors: RG
authors: Watt
mesh_terms: D002664:Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004032:Diet / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D005518:Food Preferences; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D009752:Nutritional Status; D010290:Parents; D011203:Poverty / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D006113:United Kingdom
keywords: childhood diet; community-based; nutrition; parent; pre-school children; qualitative methods