title: Evaluating Latino WIC Mothers' Perceptions of Infant's Healthy Growth: A Formative Assessment.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This article reports on a formative assessment with Latino mothers in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) evaluating knowledge, attitudes and behaviors regarding healthy growth for infants and their understanding of infant growth monitoring. Further, we explored the acceptability and feasibility of mothers' monitoring their infants' growth. This assessment includes healthy growth perceptions from mothers, caregivers and from WIC staff.
  
  
  METHODS
  Utilizing a mixed method approach, this assessment included qualitative focus groups with WIC mothers that included a growth chart plotting exercise and a quantitative survey. In-depth interviews with clinic staff discussing protocols used in assessing children's growth were also conducted in one WIC clinic.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Focus group participants included 34 mothers and 19 caregivers with a mean age of 32 years; 90 % identified as Latino. Themes included concern for underweight status, and reports of limited conversations between mothers and healthcare providers regarding overweight status, and infant feeding practices/beliefs that may contribute to feeding behaviors associated with risk for excess weight gain during infancy. Growth charts were well received, mothers were able to plot with modest accuracy; but effectiveness of growth plotting might be limited without refinement for health literacy and the provision of culturally-sensitive education in relation to feeding behaviors to support healthy infant growth.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This represents a first effort in evaluating Latino mothers' perceptions of infants' healthy growth and use growth charts as a potential tool that can help prevent excess weight gain in early infancy.
authors.affiliation: Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona, 1295 N. Martin Ave., PO Box 245163, Tucson, AZ, 85724, USA. angelav@email.arizona.edu.
authors.forename: Angela C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Valencia
authors.affiliation: Canyon Ranch Center for Prevention and Health Promotion, Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona, 1295 N. Martin Ave., PO Box 245163, Tucson, AZ, 85724, USA. cthomson@email.arizona.edu.
authors.forename: Cynthia A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Thomson
authors.affiliation: Health Promotion Sciences Division, Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona, 1295 N. Martin Ave., PO Box 245163, Tucson, AZ, 85724, USA. bduncan@peds.arizona.edu.
authors.forename: Burris
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Duncan
authors.affiliation: El Rio Community Health Center, 839 W. Congress St, Tucson, AZ, 85745, USA. andrewwa@elrio.org.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Arthur
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001130:Arizona / Q000453:epidemiology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice / Q000208:ethnology*; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008800:Mexico / Q000208:ethnology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology; D050177:Overweight / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology; D010465:Perception; D036301:Qualitative Research; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000208:ethnology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Childhood obesity; Growth charts; Infant’s growth; Latino; Mexican American; Mothers; Perceptions