Socio-Ecological Factors That Influence Infant and Young Child Nutrition in Kiribati: A Biocultural Perspective

Applying the Family Stress Model to responsive feeding and early obesity prevention

Rapid weight gain during infancy and obesity during early childhood may lead to adverse health outcomes during later childhood and into adulthood, especially in families experiencing economic hardship. Families experiencing economic hardship may also experience food insecurity, which can impact child development and responsive feeding, an important target for obesity prevention in early life. The Family Stress Model suggests that stress, particularly economic hardship, can negatively impact parents' mental health, parenting, and quality of family relationships. This review proposes a conceptual model that expands upon the original Family Stress Model by including parent-child dyadic interactions during feeding (i.e., responsive feeding) as well as the coparenting relationship around feeding. Our conceptual model integrates responsive feeding into the Family Stress Model and includes the impact of food insecurity on feeding and child health outcomes. Such models that consider multiple influences on child development have implications for the design of effective interventions to promote healthy growth for entire families. Future directions in this research will empirically test the model and explore early intervention strategies that aim to promote responsive feeding, nutrition security, and health within families. Continuing interdisciplinary research between the fields of nutrition and family development will be key to addressing the complex interplay of family stressors, parent responsiveness, and childhood obesity.

Trust and distrust in food among non-dependent elderly people in Spain. Study on socio-cultural representations through the analysis of cultural domains

The social and cultural representations of food are essential when it comes to understanding the perception of risk and the trust/distrust that people place on it. In this paper, we analyse the attributes and categories that non-dependent older people aged 65 and over living in Spain use when talking about trust/distrust in relation to food. In order to explore how they manifest different social meanings, we have conducted a study based on an analysis of cultural domains. The results of examining free-listing and pile-sort techniques were triangulated with the narratives obtained from interviews, life histories, food diaries and participatory workshops. The ethnographic research was conducted between June 2021 and June 2022 in the autonomous communities of Andalusia and Catalonia as well as the Valencian Community. Understanding the criteria for trust and distrust through the analysis of cultural domains allows us to better comprehend what food risks are perceived by older people and what value they place on food safety in their food choices. This study aims to provide qualified input for the development of healthier eating habits with recommendations for making ageing an easier process.

Factors associated with clinical nurse's mental health: a qualitative study applying the social ecological model

BACKGROUND

The prevalence of burnout, depression, and anxiety among Chinese nurses was 34%, 55.5%, and 41.8% respectively. Mental health problems have significant impacts on their personal well-being, work performance, patient care quality, and the overall healthcare system. Mental health is influenced by factors at multiple levels and their interactions.

METHODS

This was a descriptive qualitative study using phenomenological approach. We recruited a total of 48 nurses from a tertiary hospital in Changsha, Hunan Province, China. Data were collected through focus group interviews. Audio-recorded data were transcribed and inductively analysed.

RESULTS

Four major themes with 13 subthemes were identified according to the social ecological model: (1) individual-level factors, including personality traits, sleep quality, workplace adaptability, and years of work experience; (2) interpersonal-level factors, encompassing interpersonal support and role conflict; (3) organization-level factors, such as organizational climate, organizational support, career plateau, and job control; and (4) social-level factors, which included compensation packages, social status, and legislative provision and policy.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study provides a nuanced understanding of the multifaceted factors influencing nurses' mental health. Recognizing the interconnectedness of individual, interpersonal, organizational, and social elements is essential for developing targeted interventions and comprehensive strategies to promote and safeguard the mental well-being of nurses in clinical settings.

TRIAL AND PROTOCOL REGISTRATION

The larger study was registered with Chinese Clinical Trial Registry: ChiCTR2300072142 (05/06/2023) https://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.html?proj=192676 .

REPORTING METHOD

This study is reported according to the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research (COREQ).

Male involvement in maternal and child nutrition in low-income informal settlements, Nairobi, Kenya

BACKGROUND

Maternal and child nutrition is a significant public health concern because adequate nutrition is essential for the health, development, and well-being of mothers and children. Men can play a critical role in improving maternal and child health, including through their involvement in the nutrition of the mother and child. However, little has been studied on male involvement in maternal and child nutrition; therefore, this qualitative exploratory study focused on the level of male involvement and factors influencing male involvement in maternal and child nutrition in low-income urban informal settings.

METHODS

Qualitative data collection methods were triangulated in the exploratory study to inform the study objectives. In-depth interviews (IDIs) were conducted with 30 men and 20 women based on the inclusion criteria that they have children aged between 6 and 23 months. An additional 10 key informant interviews with stakeholders in nutrition within the study setting were also carried out. Data from the qualitative interviews were captured in audio files with informed consent and permission to record from the study participants. The interviews were transcribed and translated into English transcripts for coding and analysis. Themes were derived from the five levels of the socio-ecological model of human behavior, namely, (i) individual factors; (ii) interpersonal factors; (iii) community factors; (iv) institutional factors guided the analysis.

RESULTS

Findings from the study revealed that personal beliefs and values, the nature of work, mistrust and stigma and discrimination, and the association clinic visits with HIV testing, were some of the factors that influenced male involvement in maternal and child nutrition.

CONCLUSION

It is important to recognize the potential value of research on the role of men in maternal and child nutrition and to identify ways to overcome the barriers to their involvement. By better understanding the factors that influence male involvement in maternal and child nutrition and the impact of this involvement on maternal and child nutrition, it may be possible to develop more effective interventions to promote the nutritional well-being of mothers and children.

Observational Methods in Studies of Infant and Young Child Feeding Practices in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Twenty-Year Retrospective Review

This narrative review describes the observational approaches used to study infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) published between 2001 and 2021. Articles were included in this narrative review if they were (1) original peer-reviewed articles published in English in PubMed and Web of Science; (2) published between 1 January 2001, and 31 December 2021; (3) conducted in an LMIC; and (4) employed observations and focused on IYCF practices among children aged 6-59 months. The studies (n = 51) revealed a wide-ranging application of direct meal and full-day observations, as well as indirect spot checks, to study IYCF. The findings revealed that meal observations were typically conducted during a midday meal using precise recording approaches such as video and aimed to understand child-caregiver interactions or specialized nutritious food (SNF) usage. Conversely, full-day observations lasted between 6 and 12 h and often used a field notes-based recording approach. Behaviors occurring outside of mealtime, such as snacking or interhousehold food sharing, were also a primary focus. Finally, spot checks were conducted to indirectly assess SNF compliance during both announced and unannounced visits. This review highlights the adaptability of observations across contexts and their versatility when used as a primary data collection tool to help monitor and evaluate nutrition programs.

Categorizations of Trust and Distrust in the Classifications and Social Representations of Food among Pregnant and Breastfeeding Women in Spain-Applying the Cultural Domains' Pile Sort Technique

Food is fundamental in the decision making of pregnant and breastfeeding women to care for their own health and that of their child. In this paper, we explore some common food classification systems and certain attributes assigned to these categories, represented by values of trust and distrust. This study is based on an interdisciplinary research project in which we analysed discourses and practices regarding the dietary intake of pregnant and breastfeeding women in relation to the presence of chemical substances in foods. The results presented are part of the second phase of this research where we explored the results of our analysis of the pile sort technique based on an analysis of cultural domains in order to explore the categories and semantic relations among terms regarding trust and distrust in food. This technique was applied to the 62 pregnant and breastfeeding women of Catalonia and Andalusia. These women also participated in eight focus groups that provided information and narratives enabling us to analyse the meanings of the associative subdomains obtained in the pile sorts. They classified different foods and assigned certain attributes to them according to the level of trust and mistrust, providing a social representation of food risks. The mothers expressed great concern about the quality of the food they consume and about its possible effects on their own health and on that of their child. They perceive that an adequate diet is one based on the consumption of fruits and vegetables, preferably fresh. Fish and meat generate serious concern, as their properties are considered ambivalent depending on the food's origin and mode of production. These criteria are perceived by women as relevant to their food decisions and, therefore, emic knowledge should be taken into account when developing food safety programmes and planning actions aimed at pregnant and breastfeeding women.

The Role of Household Structure and Composition in Influencing Complementary Feeding Practices in Ethiopia

While the household in which a child grows up is considered a critical environment that influences nutrition outcomes, there is little research examining the influence of household composition and structure on complementary feeding practices. This study examined the influence of household structure and composition on complementary feeding practices, using the Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey (EDHS), 2000 to 2016. The composition variables were calculated from the attributes of household members (alters) and the structure variables from their kinship status. A multilevel mixed-effects regression model, specifying survey rounds as the random effect, was used to examine the association between household structure/composition and the Minimum Meal Frequency (MMF) and Minimum Dietary Diversity (MDD). The average Marginal Effects (MEs) were calculated to facilitate practical interpretation. Children of caregivers with a higher number of alters (degree), unique number of kinship category (effect size), closely related (constraint), and mixed-age alters (age diversity) seemed to increase the probability of meeting the MDD. Degree and effective size decreased the probability of meeting MMF, while constraint increased it. Overall, this study revealed some associations between household structure and composition and complementary feeding practices. Hence, complementary feeding interventions could be adapted to account for the household structure and composition variations.

The Differential Influence of Geographic Isolation on Environmental Migration: A Study of Internal Migration Amidst Degrading Conditions in the Central Pacific

This study investigates how geographic isolation interacts with declining environmental and economic conditions in Kiribati, an island nation wherein which limited access to financial resources amidst degrading environmental conditions potentially constrain capital-intensive, long distance migration. We examine whether geographic isolation modifies the tenets of two dominant environmental migration theses. The environmental scarcity thesis suggests that environmental degradation prompts migration by urging households to reallocate labor to new environments. In contrast, the environmental capital thesis asserts that declining natural resource availability restricts capital necessary for migration. Results show that the commonly applied environmental scarcity thesis is less valid and the environmental capital thesis is more relevant in geographically isolated places. Findings indicate that geographic isolation is an important dimension along which migration differences emerge. As overall environmental and economic conditions worsen, likelihoods of out-migration from less remote islands increase whereas likelihoods of out-migration from more isolated islands decrease.

Role of Seaweed in Diets of Samoa and Kiribati: Exploring Key Motivators for Consumption

Edible seaweeds have significant potential to contribute to sustainable diets that promote health of Pacific Islanders in ecologically, economically, and socially acceptable ways. No studies to date have investigated motivators for and the consumption of edible green seaweed from the genus Caulerpa (sea grapes) in Samoa and Kiribati. An observational, cross-sectional study utilized an interviewer-administered questionnaire to explore consumption behaviors and the role of sea grapes in the current diets of individuals in Samoa and Kiribati. Of the total 145 participants (n = 79, 54.5% Samoa; n = 66, 45.5% Kiribati), half (n = 76, 52%) reported consuming sea grapes. A significantly greater proportion of Samoans (n = 56, 70.9%) reported consumption than I-Kiribati participants (n = 20, 30.3%). A greater proportion of consumers were male (n = 47, 61.8%). Samoan consumers reported consumption of sea grapes with a higher diversity of foods and being related to traditional events or ceremonies. Motivators for consumption varied between countries, with Samoan consumers reporting strong agreement for taste and value for money, and identified sea grapes as nutritious food, as influences on consumption. Easy access was a motivator in Kiribati only. The findings of this study are underpinned by the degree of food security and differences in culture in Samoa and Kiribati. Future public health efforts to integrate traditional fresh food into local food systems will need to work within the existing social parameters in each respective country.