Understanding Beliefs, Knowledge, and Practices of Mothers in the Dominican Republic Related to Feeding Infants and Young Children

Abstract

Background: Obesity in children has reached epidemic proportions in the United States where an estimated 15% of children are obese. Perhaps even more troubling is the finding that childhood obesity is correlated strongly with obesity in adulthood and is increasingly observed in younger age groups and immigrant children. Parents have a major influence on the weight of children and are therefore an obvious initial focus for education and support on healthy feeding practices. Nurses are in a unique position to take the lead in helping parents develop healthy child feeding practices. Objectives: The purpose of this research was to understand the feeding practices, knowledge and nutritional beliefs of mothers with young children living in the Dominican Republic (DR). Methods: A focus group provided qualitative data for this exploratory, descriptive study. Results: The study resulted in a description of how mothers in the DR feed their children and on their beliefs about the health implications of child feeding practices. Discussion: Findings from this study help to increase understanding of feeding practices of children in the DR. This knowledge can be used by nurses to develop culturally appropriate interventions for immigrants from the DR aimed at preventing childhood obesity. Interventions that consider the effects of acculturation will be more effective when targeted to parents of young children than interventions focused on treatment of obesity in later years. Discussion: