P96 Your Child is Overweight, Now What? Understanding How North Carolina Head Start Staff Communicate with Families about Childhood Obesity

Abstract

Background Children (3-5 years) enrolled in Head Start (HS) are at increased risk for obesity. In an effort to prevent childhood obesity, HS implemented a Body Mass Index screening program in 2012. This program provides opportunities for HS to engage families by communicating information about children's weight status; however, limited research is available to describe the barriers and facilitators HS staff face when communicating this information to families. Objective Explore common experiences of HS Health/Nutrition Managers when communicating information to families about their child's weight status. Study Design, Setting, Participants Researchers conducted 15 in-depth telephone interviews with Managers across North Carolina. Measurable Outcome/Analysis Phenomenology was used to guide study design and analysis. Interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim. Researchers identified significant statements through open-coding and grouped them into themes focusing “what” and “how” participants experienced the phenomenon. Results Researchers identified 3 themes: Process of Communication; Barriers to Communication; and Communication Supports. Programs used different methods to communicate about children's weight (eg, letters, meetings, no communication). Parent reactions to children's weight status often dictated communication methods chosen; negative reactions often resulted in limited communication. Managers perceived parents’ backgrounds (socioeconomic status, education) and the “shame” associated with having an overweight/obese child as communication barriers. HS (eg, consulting dietitian) and community-based (eg, WIC) educational/counseling opportunities for families were identified as supportive of Manager efforts to communicate about children's weight status. Conclusions Participating HS programs acknowledged the importance of communicating with parents about their children's weight status. However, findings also indicated parents’ personal feelings about their child's weight status may influence the type of communication they receive and their willingness to utilize other educational/counseling opportunities. More research is needed to explore parents’ perceptions of HS communication methods, as well as effective strategies for supporting and educating parents about healthy weight in childhood. Funding East Carolina University Graduate Student Thesis Award.