Rachel S Gross1, Alan L Mendelsohn2, Mayela M Arana3, Mary Jo Messito3. 1. Divisions of General Pediatrics and rachel.gross@nyulangone.org. 2. Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, New York University, New York, New York. 3. Divisions of General Pediatrics and.
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Pregnancy, infancy, and toddlerhood are sensitive times in which families are particularly vulnerable to household food insecurity and when disparities in child obesity emerge. Understanding obesity-promoting infant-feeding beliefs, styles, and practices in the context of food insecurity could better inform both food insecurity and child obesity prevention interventions and policy guidelines. METHODS: We performed purposive sampling of low-income Hispanic mothers (n = 100) with infants in the first 2 years of life, all of whom were participants in a randomized controlled trial of an early child obesity prevention intervention called the Starting Early Program. Bilingual English-Spanish interviewers conducted semistructured qualitative interviews, which were audio recorded, transcribed, and translated. By using the constant comparative method, transcripts were coded through an iterative process of textual analysis until thematic saturation was reached. RESULTS: Three key themes emerged: (1) contributors to financial strain included difficulty meeting basic needs, job instability, and high vulnerability specific to pregnancy, infancy, and immigration status; (2) effects on infant feeding included decreased breastfeeding due to perceived poor maternal diet, high stress, and limiting of healthy foods; and (3) coping strategies included both home- and community-level strategies. CONCLUSIONS: Stakeholders in programs and policies to prevent poverty-related disparities in child obesity should consider and address the broader context by which food insecurity is associated with contributing beliefs, styles, and practices. Potential strategies include addressing misconceptions about maternal diet and breast milk adequacy, stress management, building social support networks, and connecting to supplemental nutrition assistance programs.
RCT Entities:
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Pregnancy, infancy, and toddlerhood are sensitive times in which families are particularly vulnerable to household food insecurity and when disparities in childobesity emerge. Understanding obesity-promoting infant-feeding beliefs, styles, and practices in the context of food insecurity could better inform both food insecurity and childobesity prevention interventions and policy guidelines. METHODS: We performed purposive sampling of low-income Hispanic mothers (n = 100) with infants in the first 2 years of life, all of whom were participants in a randomized controlled trial of an early childobesity prevention intervention called the Starting Early Program. Bilingual English-Spanish interviewers conducted semistructured qualitative interviews, which were audio recorded, transcribed, and translated. By using the constant comparative method, transcripts were coded through an iterative process of textual analysis until thematic saturation was reached. RESULTS: Three key themes emerged: (1) contributors to financial strain included difficulty meeting basic needs, job instability, and high vulnerability specific to pregnancy, infancy, and immigration status; (2) effects on infant feeding included decreased breastfeeding due to perceived poor maternal diet, high stress, and limiting of healthy foods; and (3) coping strategies included both home- and community-level strategies. CONCLUSIONS: Stakeholders in programs and policies to prevent poverty-related disparities in childobesity should consider and address the broader context by which food insecurity is associated with contributing beliefs, styles, and practices. Potential strategies include addressing misconceptions about maternal diet and breast milk adequacy, stress management, building social support networks, and connecting to supplemental nutrition assistance programs.
Authors: Rachel S Gross; Alan L Mendelsohn; Arthur H Fierman; Andrew D Racine; Mary Jo Messito Journal: Pediatrics Date: 2012-07-23 Impact factor: 7.124
Authors: Lucia L Kaiser; Hugo Melgar-Quiñonez; Marilyn S Townsend; Yvonne Nicholson; Mary Lavender Fujii; Anna C Martin; Cathi L Lamp Journal: J Nutr Educ Behav Date: 2003 May-Jun Impact factor: 3.045
Authors: Rachel S Gross; Alan L Mendelsohn; Michelle B Gross; Roberta Scheinmann; Mary Jo Messito Journal: J Pediatr Date: 2016-04-21 Impact factor: 4.406
Authors: Jennifer A Woo Baidal; Shaniece Criss; Roberta E Goldman; Meghan Perkins; Courtney Cunningham; Elsie M Taveras Journal: J Obes Date: 2015-03-22
Authors: Carol Duh-Leong; H Shonna Yin; Stella S Yi; Sabrina L Chen; Angel Mui; Eliana M Perrin; Qiuqu Zhao; Rachel S Gross Journal: J Immigr Minor Health Date: 2021-09-07
Authors: Kimberley A Baxter; Smita Nambiar; Tsz Hei Jeffrey So; Danielle Gallegos; Rebecca Byrne Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2022-05-05 Impact factor: 4.614
Authors: Rachel S Gross; Nicole M Brown; Alan L Mendelsohn; Michelle W Katzow; Mayela M Arana; Mary Jo Messito Journal: Acad Pediatr Date: 2021-04-30 Impact factor: 3.107
Authors: Rheanna E Platt; Jennifer Acosta; Julia Stellmann; Elizabeth Sloand; Tania Maria Caballero; Sarah Polk; Lawrence S Wissow; Tamar Mendelson; Caitlin E Kennedy Journal: Acad Pediatr Date: 2021-05-13 Impact factor: 3.107
Authors: Kristin K Clemens; Britney Le; Alexandra M Ouédraogo; Constance Mackenzie; Marlee Vinegar; Salimah Z Shariff Journal: PLoS One Date: 2021-06-09 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: Laura E Wild; William B Patterson; Roshonda B Jones; Jasmine F Plows; Paige K Berger; Claudia Rios; Jennifer L Fogel; Michael I Goran; Tanya L Alderete Journal: Nutrients Date: 2021-09-18 Impact factor: 6.706