Public Health Nutrition
Volume 20, Issue 11, 2017, Pages 1941-1952

How Latina mothers navigate a 'food swamp' to feed their children: A photovoice approach (Article) (Open Access)

Colón-Ramos U.* , Monge-Rojas R. , Cremm E. , Rivera I.M. , Andrade E.L. , Edberg M.C.
  • a Department of Global Health, Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, DC 20037, United States
  • b Costa Rican Institute for Research and Education On Nutrition and Health, Ministry of Health, Tres Riós, Costa Rica
  • c Independent Consultant, Lower Hutt, New Zealand
  • d Rivera Group, Washington, DC, United States
  • e Department of Prevention and Community Health, Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States
  • f Department of Prevention and Community Health, Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States

Abstract

Objective To understand how mothers who recently migrated from Central America to the USA feed their children in a neighbourhood saturated with unhealthful food choices ('food swamp') and to formulate a mother-driven plan of action to facilitate their acquisition of foods. Design/Setting/Subjects We purposively sampled mothers with children (<10 years old) who were recent immigrants/refugees from Central America and lived in a 'food swamp' neighbourhood. We used the photovoice approach to elicit textual data from thirty in-depth interviews, a participatory workshop, and visual data from photographs. Analyses were guided by the Social Ecological Framework and Social Cognitive Theory to identify barriers, facilitators and strategies that support parents in feeding their children. Results Mothers valued foods that they considered to be 'traditional' and 'healthful'. They navigated their food retail environment looking for these foods (of good quality and well-priced). Food values were reinforced by pre-migration food customs and culture, health professionals' advice and, in some cases, by the desire to avoid conflict with their children. The neighbourhood food environment could directly influence children's food preferences and often created conflict between what the child wanted to eat and the foods that mothers valued. Mothers in this 'food swamp' wanted to be engaged in addressing the selection of foods offered in schools and in neighbourhood food venues to reflect their own food values. Conclusions These mothers' feeding choices were influenced directly by their food values, and indirectly by the neighbourhood and school food environments via their children's preferences. © 2017 The Authors.

Author Keywords

Food environment qualitative research Latino/Hispanic Food swamp

Index Keywords

demography human Health Behavior Schools Central America Food Services child behavior Hispanic Americans Residence Characteristics catering service Humans psychology Hispanic Food Preferences Mothers Healthy Diet school Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice food preference mother Social Environment Choice Behavior decision making attitude to health Child
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85019582375&doi=10.1017%2fS1368980017000738&partnerID=40&md5=c9aafe0a393ef0b7a25d58313d9ed78a
DOI: 10.1017/S1368980017000738
ISSN: 13689800
Cited by: 5
Original Language: English