The role of fathers in overweight prevention: an analysis of a Caribbean cohort

Smith, Joanne; Rocke, Kern; Charles, Sharon; Chang, Susan M.; Wright, Amika S.; Walker, Susan; Taveras, Elsie M.; Tulloch‐Reid, Marshall K.

doi:10.1017/gheg.2018.12

“…Approximately fifty-five per cent of fathers in our study resided in the home with the mother and child. A prior study by Smith et al (2018) of the same cohort of mother-child dyads as the present investigation reported that fathers who lived in the home encouraged healthier eating practices and influenced positive nutritional decisions (54) . The finding of less use of indulgent feeding in higher socio-economic homes than poorer ones is consistent with other studies that have examined non-responsive feeding styles (9,12,15,52,53,(55)(56)(57)(58) .…”

Section: Component Factor Loadingmentioning

confidence: 61%

Maternal characteristics influence infant feeding styles in Caribbean women

Wright

¹

,

Tulloch‐Reid

²

,

Chang

³

et al. 2021

Public Health Nutr.

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Objective: To examine associations between maternal characteristics and feeding styles in Caribbean mothers. Design: Participants were mother-child pairs enrolled in a cluster randomized trial of a parenting intervention in 3 Caribbean islands. Maternal characteristics were obtained by questionnaires when infants were 6-8 weeks old. Items adapted from the Toddler Feeding Behaviour Questionnaire were used to assess infant feeding styles at age 1 year. Feeding styles were identified using factor analysis and associations with maternal characteristics assessed using multilevel linear regression. Setting: Health clinics in St. Lucia (n=9), Antigua (n=10) and Jamaica (n=20). Participants: 405 mother-child pairs from the larger trial. Results: Maternal depressive symptoms were associated with uninvolved (β= 0.38 [95%CI=0.14, 0.62]), restrictive (β= 0.44 [95%CI= 0.19, 0.69]) and forceful (β=0.31 [95%CI= 0.06, 0.57]) feeding; and inversely associated with responsive feeding (β= −0.30 [95%CI= −0.56, −0.05]).Maternal vocabulary was inversely associated with uninvolved (β= −0.31 [95%CI= −0.57, −0.06]), restrictive (β= −0.30 [95%CI= −0.56, −0.04]), indulgent (β= −0.47 [95%CI= −0.73, −0.21]) and forceful (β= −0.54 [95%CI= −0.81, −0.28]) feeding. Indulgent feeding was negatively associated with socioeconomic status (β= −0.27 [95%CI= −0.53, −0.00]) and was lower among mothers ≥35 years (β= −0.32 [95%CI= −0.62, −0.02]). Breastfeeding at 1 year was associated with forceful feeding (β= 0.41 [95%CI= 0.21, 0.61]). No significant associations were found between maternal education, body mass index, occupation and feeding styles. Conclusion: Services to identify and assist mothers with depressive symptoms may benefit infant feeding style. Interventions to promote responsive feeding may be important for, less educated, younger and socioeconomically disadvantaged mothers.

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“…Strategies to feeding used by mothers and fathers are based on many elements (18). Ranging from personal weight-related experiences, "perception of their child's BMI, or the parent's beliefs about gender differences regarding dieting and physical attractiveness" (17).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Ranging from personal weight-related experiences, "perception of their child's BMI, or the parent's beliefs about gender differences regarding dieting and physical attractiveness" (17). Child obesity research shows greater focus being made on the role of mothers and mothering, with less attention on the influence, roles and responsibilities of fathers in the provision of the family's food availability and choices (18). A landmark survey for South Africa conducted in 2012 indicated that as many as 28% of South African households were at risk of hunger while 26% experienced hunger (19).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Primary caregivers perceptions of the role of fathers in the provision of nutritional care in a resource constrained environment in Cape Town, South Africa

Brown

¹

,

Roman

²

2019

Preprint

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Background : The role of fathers has traditionally been defined as a breadwinner or provider, with men generally having lower levels of engagement in childcare tasks, especially with young children. The involvement of fathers has important consequences for child well-being, especially with regards to issues of diet/nutrition, exercise, play, and parenting behaviours. This paper seeks to explore the perceptions and limitations that primary caregivers have on fathers’ provision of care in a resource constrained community in South Africa. Methods : Data was collected through in-depth face to face interviews, with a sample of 10 primary caregivers in a resource constrained community in Cape Town, South Africa. Results : The findings reveal that there is a lack of involvement from fathers in the provision of nutritional care and that this affects mothers and grandmothers who then need to provide both the physical and emotional care to their children. These findings are based on the perspective of mothers and grandmothers and their perceived roles in the family. Conclusion : The level of lack of financial involvement from fathers has dramatically affected the participating family’s food security due to only one member in the household earning below minimum wage. This has therefore meant that the dietary needs of the family are not being met with nutritional foods, but instead by high fat and high sugar content foods. The findings also highlighted that primary caregivers want to be taught about health and nutritional food choices for a limited budget.

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“…Approaches to feeding used by mothers and fathers vary depending on a variety of factors., Personal weight-related experiences, perception of their child's BMI, or the parent's beliefs about gender differences regarding dieting and physical attractiveness are some of these factors (17). Child obesity research shows greater focus being made on the role of mothers and mothering, with less attention placed on the influence, roles and responsibilities of fathers in the provision of the family's food availability and choices (18). Data from the South African National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (SANHANES) indicated that 28% of South African households were at risk of hunger and 26% experienced hunger in 2012.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Primary caregivers perceptions of the role of fathers in the provision of nutritional care in a resource constrained environment in Cape Town, South Africa

Brown

¹

,

Roman

²

2019

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background : The role of fathers has traditionally been defined as a breadwinner or provider, with men generally having lower levels of engagement in childcare tasks, especially with young children. The involvement of fathers has important consequences for child well-being, especially with regards to issues of diet/nutrition, exercise, play, and parenting behaviours. This paper seeks to explore the perceptions and limitations that primary caregivers have on fathers’ provision of care in a resource constrained community in South Africa. Methods : Data was collected through in-depth face to face interviews, with a sample of 10 primary caregivers in a resource constrained community in Cape Town, South Africa. Results : The findings reveal that there is a lack of involvement from fathers in the provision of nutritional care and that this affects mothers and grandmothers who then need to provide both the physical and emotional care to their children. These findings are based on the perspective of mothers and grandmothers and their perceived roles in the family. Conclusion : The level of lack of financial involvement from fathers has dramatically affected the participating family’s food security due to only one member in the household earning below minimum wage. This has therefore meant that the dietary needs of the family are not being met with nutritional foods, but instead by high fat and high sugar content foods. The findings also highlighted that primary caregivers want to be taught about health and nutritional food choices for a limited budget.

show abstract

The role of fathers in overweight prevention: an analysis of a Caribbean cohort

Cited by 6 publications

References 21 publications

Maternal characteristics influence infant feeding styles in Caribbean women

Maternal characteristics influence infant feeding styles in Caribbean women

Primary caregivers perceptions of the role of fathers in the provision of nutritional care in a resource constrained environment in Cape Town, South Africa

Primary caregivers perceptions of the role of fathers in the provision of nutritional care in a resource constrained environment in Cape Town, South Africa

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