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Diet, Nutrition, and Oral Health: What Influences Mother’s Decisions on What to Feed Their Young Children?

Author

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  • Amit Arora

    (Campbelltown Campus, School of Health Sciences, Western Sydney University, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith, NSW 2751, Australia
    Health Equity Laboratory, Campbelltown, NSW 2560, Australia
    Translational Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith, NSW 2751, Australia
    Discipline of Child and Adolescent Health, Sydney Medical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia)

  • Louise Chew

    (Sydney Dental School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Surry Hills, NSW 2010, Australia)

  • Kaye Kang

    (Sydney Dental School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Surry Hills, NSW 2010, Australia)

  • Lily Tang

    (Sydney Dental School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Surry Hills, NSW 2010, Australia)

  • Mohamed Estai

    (Australian eHealth Research Centre, CSIRO, Floreat, WA 6014, Australia
    School of Human Sciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia)

  • Jack Thepsourinthone

    (Campbelltown Campus, School of Health Sciences, Western Sydney University, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith, NSW 2751, Australia
    Health Equity Laboratory, Campbelltown, NSW 2560, Australia)

  • Navira Chandio

    (Campbelltown Campus, School of Health Sciences, Western Sydney University, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith, NSW 2751, Australia
    Health Equity Laboratory, Campbelltown, NSW 2560, Australia)

  • Jinal Parmar

    (Campbelltown Campus, School of Health Sciences, Western Sydney University, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith, NSW 2751, Australia
    Health Equity Laboratory, Campbelltown, NSW 2560, Australia)

  • Ashish M. Doyizode

    (Campbelltown Campus, School of Health Sciences, Western Sydney University, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith, NSW 2751, Australia
    Health Equity Laboratory, Campbelltown, NSW 2560, Australia)

  • Vipin Jain K.

    (Department of Public Health Dentistry, KLE’s Institute of Dental Sciences, Bangalore 560022, India)

  • Sameer Bhole

    (Oral Health Services, Sydney Dental Hospital, Sydney Local Health District, NSW Health, Surry Hills, NSW 2010, Australia
    Sydney Dental School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Surry Hills, NSW 2010, Australia)

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to learn about mothers’ experiences with food choices for their pre-school children in underprivileged communities in Greater Western Sydney (GWS). A total of 20 mother-child dyads living in GWS were recruited to a qualitative study from an ongoing birth cohort study. Participants’ houses were visited for semi-structured interviews, which were recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analysed thematically. The interviews yielded five main themes: (i) food choices, nutrition, and health; (ii) accessibility and availability of foods (iii) buying time for parents; (iv) child’s age and their preference on food choices; (v) conditioning certain behaviours by family and cultural factors. Nutrition literacy, child’s preferences, unhealthy food intake by family members, child’s demand, advertising and availability of harmful foods, and time constraints were all mentioned as hurdles to mothers making appropriate meal choices for their children. However, some identified facilitators were promoting parents’ knowledge, increasing access to health educational materials, upskilling mothers to providing healthier alternatives, regulating the marketing of unhealth foods. Although, the present study identified critical factors that influence mothers’ food choices for their young children, making healthy food choices is a complex practice as it is shaped by individual, social and environmental influences.

Suggested Citation

  • Amit Arora & Louise Chew & Kaye Kang & Lily Tang & Mohamed Estai & Jack Thepsourinthone & Navira Chandio & Jinal Parmar & Ashish M. Doyizode & Vipin Jain K. & Sameer Bhole, 2021. "Diet, Nutrition, and Oral Health: What Influences Mother’s Decisions on What to Feed Their Young Children?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(15), pages 1-15, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:15:p:8159-:d:606755
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Catherine E Houghton & Dympna Casey & David Shaw & Kathy Murphy, 2013. "Students’ experiences of implementing clinical skills in the real world of practice," Journal of Clinical Nursing, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 22(13-14), pages 1961-1969, July.
    2. Amit Arora & Dimitri Lucas & Michael To & Ritesh Chimoriya & Sameer Bhole & Santosh Kumar Tadakamadla & James J. Crall, 2021. "How Do Mothers Living in Socially Deprived Communities Perceive Oral Health of Young Children? A Qualitative Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(7), pages 1-18, March.
    3. de Jong-Lenters, M. & Duijster, D. & Bruist, M.A. & Thijssen, J. & de Ruiter, C., 2014. "The relationship between parenting, family interaction and childhood dental caries: A case-control study," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 116(C), pages 49-55.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    Cited by:

    1. Amy H. Park & Rachel J. Kulchar & Sita Manasa Susarla & Bathsheba Turton & Karen Sokal-Gutierrez, 2023. "Fewer Children in Families Associated with Lower Odds of Early Childhood Caries: A Sample from Three Countries," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(3), pages 1-14, January.

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