Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health
2019

Perspectives of Caregivers on the Effects of Migration on the Nutrition, Health and Physical Activity of their Young Children: A Qualitative Study with Immigrant and Refugee Families (Article)

Dawson-Hahn E.* , Koceja L. , Stein E. , Farmer B. , Grow H.M. , Saelens B.E. , Mendoza J. , Pak-Gorstein S.
  • a Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States, Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Center for Child Health, Behavior and Development, M/S CW8-6, PO Box 5371, Seattle, WA 98145, United States
  • b Harborview Medical Center, Seattle, WA, United States
  • c Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Center for Child Health, Behavior and Development, M/S CW8-6, PO Box 5371, Seattle, WA 98145, United States
  • d Refugees Northwest, Lutheran Community Services Northwest, Seatac, WA, United States
  • e Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
  • f Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States, Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Center for Child Health, Behavior and Development, M/S CW8-6, PO Box 5371, Seattle, WA 98145, United States, Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
  • g Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States, Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Center for Child Health, Behavior and Development, M/S CW8-6, PO Box 5371, Seattle, WA 98145, United States, Cancer Prevention Program, Fred Hutch/UW Cancer Consortium, Seattle, WA, United States
  • h Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States, Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States

Abstract

To explore perspectives on nutrition, health and physical activity among immigrant parents with young children before and after migration. We conducted focus groups in five languages (Arabic, Somali, Dari, Burmese and Nepali), then conducted a phenomenological analysis of the transcripts. Fifty caregivers participated; 42% spent time in a refugee camp. Within the domain Change in Environment, four themes emerged: (1) food access; (2) family experiences with weight and growth; (3) differences in physical activity and perceptions of safety; and (4) health care experience. Within the domain of Parenting Behaviors and Experiences, two themes emerged: (1) Sociocultural differences in early feeding behaviors and (2) concern about feeding behaviors. To support health outcomes for refugee and immigrant families with young children, key focus areas for programming would include access to fresh foods, safe places for physical activity, and feeding practices following a family history of food scarcity. © 2019, Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.

Author Keywords

immigrants Children Refugees nutrition Feeding

Index Keywords

physical activity controlled study perception immigrant feeding behavior family history language refugee camp qualitative research Article genetic transcription caregiver human child parent relation Child
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85068123774&doi=10.1007%2fs10903-019-00905-6&partnerID=40&md5=7dff8f5b98e2324977bef4dca922e64f
DOI: 10.1007/s10903-019-00905-6
ISSN: 15571912
Original Language: English