The Association of Acculturation and Complementary Infant and Young Child Feeding Practices Among New Chinese Immigrant Mothers in England: A Mixed Methods Study

Zhang Zhang,Benton Benton

doi:10.3390/ijerph16183282

Abstract

Acculturation has an influence on mothers’ beliefs and the perceived behaviours of different ethnicities. Few studies have been conducted on complementary infant and young child feeding practices (CIYCFP) in minorities in England, particularly in Chinese immigrants. This mixed study aims to explore the association of acculturation and IYCF among new Chinese immigrant mothers using purposive snowball sampling from an informal Chinese community. The participants’ responses to the Infant Feeding Style Questionnaire (IFSQ) and Mutual Intercultural Relations in Plural Societies (MIRIPS), questionnaire (n = 32) were collected. A sub-set of 15 also participated in semi-structured interviews. Pearson’s correlation coefficient analysis and thematic analysis were performed to analyse the survey and semi-structured interview data, and triangulation was employed to integrate quantitative and qualitative findings. This study indicated that Chinese mothers who scored high in integration were more likely to respond to satiety and attention; those inclined to be marginalised were more likely to indulge their children. Those who were more culturally separated were more likely to restrict the food quality offered to their children. This study also indicated that Chinese immigrants balanced western and Chinese feeding practices to combat feeding and culture conflict. This study presents preliminary findings of the association between acculturation and CIYCFP, which can improve culturally appropriate CIYCFP in minorities. Further studies are needed to explore intervention programs to tailor CIYCFP with consideration for acculturation in the minority.

Highlights

Acculturation is “the process of cultural change that occurs when immigrants from heritage cultural backgrounds come into continuous first-hand contact with a dominant culture,[as well as the] subsequent changes in the culture of heritage patterns of either or both groups” [1].Both culture—defined as the ideas and social behaviour of a particular group of people or society—and ethnicity are recognised determinants of health [2]
Without considering these cultural changes and the context of socioeconomic and environmental influences, public health strategies will remain untargeted and ineffective and lead to growing health inequalities and public expenditure. This is an important omission because current nutrition-specific interventions might be insufficient to optimise IYCF if the acculturation context in which they exist is ignored. Considering this gap, this mixed qualitative and quantitative study explores the association between acculturation and complementary infant and young child feeding practices (CIYCFP) among new Chinese immigrant mothers living in England
Thinking of acculturation as a force shaping CIYCFP has implications regarding equity of access and culturally appropriate health policy. This is the first mixed qualitative and quantitative study to present the association between acculturation and CIYCFP among new Chinese immigrant mothers living in England, with the aim of better understanding how acculturation shapes CIYCFP

Summary

Introduction

Acculturation is “the process of cultural change that occurs when immigrants from heritage cultural backgrounds come into continuous first-hand contact with a dominant culture,[as well as the] subsequent changes in the culture of heritage patterns of either or both groups” [1].Both culture—defined as the ideas and social behaviour of a particular group of people or society—and ethnicity are recognised determinants of health [2]. Acculturation is “the process of cultural change that occurs when immigrants from heritage cultural backgrounds come into continuous first-hand contact with a dominant culture,. [as well as the] subsequent changes in the culture of heritage patterns of either or both groups” [1]. Both culture—defined as the ideas and social behaviour of a particular group of people or society—and ethnicity are recognised determinants of health [2]. Cultural differences within England might contribute to growing ethnic health inequalities [3]. The cultural differences around health knowledge for South. The theoretical conceptualization of acculturation has changed from a simplified bipolar model to a complex, multidimensional process

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion