LAUSR

Background There are socioeconomic factors particular to Hispanic populations that influence the way parents feed their children. As obesity continues to be a public health issue with substantial inequities across race and ethnicity, it is critical to understand Hispanic parents’ food choices and feeding practices. Objective To identify the behavioral, environmental, and cognitive factors that influence food choices and feeding behaviors of Hispanic mothers of children ages 0-5 years. Study Design, Settings, Participants Snowball sampling was used to recruit participants. Participants (n = 30) were included in the study if they were over 18, and self-identified as Hispanic/Latina and a mother of a child between the ages of 0-5 years. Semi-structured interviews were conducted in either English or Spanish and were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim. Measurable Outcome/Analysis Each interview consisted of a brief survey and open-ended questions based on Social Cognitive Theory (SCT) constructs. The questions centered on pediatric guidelines for healthy eating. A thematic analysis using a combined deductive and inductive approach is currently being used to analyze transcriptions. Results Emerging themes include challenges, attitudes, and strategies for both breastfeeding and introducing solid foods. Mothers had especially strong attitudes towards breastfeeding and expressed the importance of it but conversely described the multitudes of problems they experienced. Mothers described issues feeding their older children due to taste preferences and the methods they used to encourage eating, including bribing or tricking the child by hiding nutritious foods in recipes. Participants also described numerous sources of influence that shaped their feeding choices, the most common being other moms, healthcare providers, their culture, and the internet. Conclusion Hispanic mothers are actively seeking information from many different sources that impact how they feed their young children. Understanding their trusted sources and how it influences the SCT constructs is an important step in preventing early childhood obesity. Funding None.