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Evaluating Latino WIC Mothers’ Perceptions of Infant’s Healthy Growth: A Formative Assessment

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Abstract

Objectives This article reports on a formative assessment with Latino mothers in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) evaluating knowledge, attitudes and behaviors regarding healthy growth for infants and their understanding of infant growth monitoring. Further, we explored the acceptability and feasibility of mothers’ monitoring their infants’ growth. This assessment includes healthy growth perceptions from mothers, caregivers and from WIC staff. Methods Utilizing a mixed method approach, this assessment included qualitative focus groups with WIC mothers that included a growth chart plotting exercise and a quantitative survey. In-depth interviews with clinic staff discussing protocols used in assessing children’s growth were also conducted in one WIC clinic. Results Focus group participants included 34 mothers and 19 caregivers with a mean age of 32 years; 90 % identified as Latino. Themes included concern for underweight status, and reports of limited conversations between mothers and healthcare providers regarding overweight status, and infant feeding practices/beliefs that may contribute to feeding behaviors associated with risk for excess weight gain during infancy. Growth charts were well received, mothers were able to plot with modest accuracy; but effectiveness of growth plotting might be limited without refinement for health literacy and the provision of culturally-sensitive education in relation to feeding behaviors to support healthy infant growth. Conclusions This represents a first effort in evaluating Latino mothers’ perceptions of infants’ healthy growth and use growth charts as a potential tool that can help prevent excess weight gain in early infancy.

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Acknowledgments

This project was funded by the Canyon Ranch Center for Prevention and Health Promotion and the Arizona Area Health Education Center (AHEC). The authors are grateful for the support provided by the participating WIC clinics including the Mariposa Community Health Center in Nogales, and El Rio Community Health Center in Tucson, Arizona. The authors would also like to thank the clinic directors; Lillian Romero, Susan Kunz, and Olivia Torres for providing ongoing assistance throughout this project.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona, 1295 N. Martin Ave., PO Box 245163, Tucson, AZ, 85724, USA

    Angela C. Valencia

  2. Canyon Ranch Center for Prevention and Health Promotion, Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona, 1295 N. Martin Ave., PO Box 245163, Tucson, AZ, 85724, USA

    Cynthia A. Thomson

  3. Health Promotion Sciences Division, Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona, 1295 N. Martin Ave., PO Box 245163, Tucson, AZ, 85724, USA

    Burris Duncan

  4. El Rio Community Health Center, 839 W. Congress St, Tucson, AZ, 85745, USA

    Andrew Arthur

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  1. Angela C. Valencia
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Correspondence to Angela C. Valencia.

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Valencia, A.C., Thomson, C.A., Duncan, B. et al. Evaluating Latino WIC Mothers’ Perceptions of Infant’s Healthy Growth: A Formative Assessment. Matern Child Health J 20, 525–533 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-015-1850-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-015-1850-7

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