title: Factors contributing to infant overfeeding in low-income immigrant Latina mothers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Approximately 10% of U.S. infants and toddlers are considered overweight. Hispanic infants persistently show higher prevalence rates for being overweight compared to other infants. Little is known about factors promoting excessive infant weight gain in Latinos.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to describe multidimensional factors and maternal feeding practices that may correlate with infant overfeeding in Latina mothers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants were 62 low-income immigrant Latina mothers and their infants. Study measures were: acculturation; maternal feeding beliefs and practices; food availability; temperament; 24-hour dietary recall; and infant's weight-for-height z score.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In regression models adjusted for infant's age, healthier feeding practices were significantly predicted by maternal education and infant's age. Most mothers preferred feeding their infants either formula or a combination of breast milk and formula. A significant proportion of the infants were overweight or obese and yet some mothers displayed difficulty recognizing this problem.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Future intervention efforts should focus primarily on the promotion of healthy feeding practices that discourage overfeeding and support exclusive breastfeeding among this ethnic group.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Hampton University, Hampton, VA, USA. Electronic address: diana.cartagena@hamptonu.edu.
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cartagena
authors.affiliation: Department of Family and Community Health Nursing, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA.
authors.forename: Suzanne W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Ameringer
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA.
authors.forename: Jacqueline M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: McGrath
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine and Population Health, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA.
authors.forename: Saba W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Masho
authors.affiliation: Department of Family and Community Health Nursing, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA.
authors.forename: Nancy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Jallo
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA.
authors.forename: Barbara J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Myers
mesh_terms: D001942:Breast Feeding; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D006963:Hyperphagia; D007223:Infant; D011203:Poverty; D014481:United States
keywords: Breastfeeding; Hispanic mother; Infant feeding; Latina mother; Overfeeding