A qualitative Kaupapa Māori approach to understanding infant and young child feeding practices of Māori and Pacific grandparents in Auckland, New Zealand.
OBJECTIVE
The present research sought to better understand the barriers, facilitators, attitudes and beliefs that influence the way Māori and Samoan grandparents feed their grandchildren in a deprived urban neighbourhood in New Zealand.


METHODS
The research adopted a qualitative methodology that was consistent with a Kaupapa Māori research approach. Seven semi-structured interviews were conducted with grandparents to collect narrative data.


METHODS
Sampling occurred in one Auckland suburb. The suburb was selected because of its high level of socio-economic deprivation and ethnic diversity.


METHODS
Seven grandparents participated in the study (five Māori and two Samoan). Each participant met the inclusion criteria (i.e. they had provided at least five meals per week over the previous three months to grandchildren aged less than 24 months). Marae (i.e. meeting houses and areas used by local Māori tribes/sub-tribes) and community organisations were used to recruit participants.


RESULTS
A general inductive thematic analysis identified four key themes: (i) grandparents' understanding of optimal feeding practices; (ii) economic and material factors; (iii) previous experiences and customary norms; and (iv) social support and societal pressure.


CONCLUSIONS
The study showed that grandparents' complementary feeding practices in caring for infant grandchildren were influenced by upstream structural elements such as government policies related to welfare and pensions, employment, income and cultural knowledge. Frameworks that seek to achieve social justice and support cultural practices should be employed and promoted in the development of future policy and research in this area.
Te Kupenga Hauora Māori, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences,University of Auckland,Private Bag 92019,Auckland 1142,New Zealand.
Rachel
R
Tapera
Te Kupenga Hauora Māori, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences,University of Auckland,Private Bag 92019,Auckland 1142,New Zealand.
Matire
M
Harwood
Te Kupenga Hauora Māori, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences,University of Auckland,Private Bag 92019,Auckland 1142,New Zealand.
Anneka
A
Anderson
D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008875:Middle Aged; D004032:Diet / Q000523:psychology; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D000066502:Grandparents / Q000523:psychology; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D009520:New Zealand; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D000095284:Maori People; D000095188:Pacific Island People
Child health; Infant feeding practices; Kaupapa Māori research; Māori health