The Impact of the Healthy Children, Healthy Families Curriculum on Maternal Food Parenting Practices

Abstract

Objective: To assess the impact of the evidence-based Healthy Children, Healthy Families (HCHF) curriculum on changes in positive food parenting practices (FPPs). Design/Setting: Non-experimental pre/post within-subjects design. The study primarily took place at a free healthcare clinic (Clinica Esperanza/Hope Clinic) located in Providence, RI. Participants: Mother-child dyads were recruited from the community (n=40) and completed baseline data measures for an 8-week group-based intervention, with 24 mother-child dyads completing the intervention. Dyads were primarily Hispanic, and of low socio-economic status. Intervention: The 8-week, evidence-based HCHF curriculum/intervention was delivered primarily in Spanish to 4 separate groups of mothers by trained paraprofessional educators, or navegantes. Main Outcome Measures: Mothers completed self-administered surveys pre/post which included demographic questions, seven subscales from the Comprehensive Feeding Practices Questionnaire, and the 16-item HCHF Behavior Checklist. Analysis: Descriptive statistics and paired samples t-tests were used to analyze mother-child dyad data (n=40). Results: There were significant improvements in positive FPPs, including modeling and involvement, (p Conclusions and Implications: Positive FFPs, and mother and child health behaviors improved after participating in an 8-week group based intervention. Community-based delivery of the HCHF curriculum is feasible and may be effective in improving food parenting practices as well as behaviors that contribute to childhood obesity.