Latino family childcare providers' beliefs, attitudes, and practices related to promotion of healthy behaviors among preschool children: a qualitative study.

Ana C Lindsay,Judith A Salkeld,Faith D Sands,Mary L Greaney

doi:10.1155/2015/409742

Abstract

Background. The continuing rise of obesity among Latinos is a public health concern with an immediate need for early prevention. Changes in family structures have increased demand and reliance for child care for young children. Latino children are the fastest-growing segment of the child population in the United States, and research shows that Latino families use preschools and day care centers much less than those of other ethnic groups, apparently because of cultural preferences for family-like care. Objectives. Given that many low income Latino children attend family child care homes (FCCHs), there is a need to explore the role that FCCH providers may play in establishing and reinforcing children's early healthful eating and physical activity behaviors and consequently in the prevention of childhood obesity. Design. Using purposive sampling, six focus groups were conducted in Spanish with licensed Latino FCCH providers (n = 44). Data was analyzed to identify recurrent themes. Results. Latino FCCH providers described how they play an influential role in promoting healthful eating and physical activity behaviors of preschool children in their care. They also identified many barriers and challenges in establishing and maintaining healthful nutrition and physical activity behaviors, including high cost of healthy foods, cold weather, and physical environment of FCCH. Conclusions. Latino FCCH providers can have a strong impact in promoting healthful behaviors in low-income, Latino communities. They may be able to effectively deliver interventions targeting low-income, minority families to promote healthful eating and physical activity behaviors and prevent child obesity.

Highlights

Latinos are the largest and most rapidly growing population group in the United States
We worked with MA Department of Early Education and Care (EEC), which develops licensing regulations and requirements for childcare providers and supports training for early educators, and the Child Care Circuit, a nonprofit organization providing child care referrals, training, and parent and provider services, to identify cities in four regions of the state (North Shore, Greater Boston, Central MA, and Western MA) that have a large number of family child care homes (FCCHs) run by Latino providers
Theory-driven qualitative approaches are critical to enhancing knowledge and guiding development of interventions that promote healthful behaviors related to pediatric obesity intervention [22, 23]

Summary

Introduction

Latinos are the largest and most rapidly growing population group in the United States. Given that many low income Latino children attend family child care homes (FCCHs), there is a need to explore the role that FCCH providers may play in establishing and reinforcing children’s early healthful eating and physical activity behaviors and in the prevention of childhood obesity. Latino FCCH providers described how they play an influential role in promoting healthful eating and physical activity behaviors of preschool children in their care. Latino FCCH providers can have a strong impact in promoting healthful behaviors in low-income, Latino communities They may be able to effectively deliver interventions targeting low-income, minority families to promote healthful eating and physical activity behaviors and prevent child obesity

Methods

Results

Conclusion