Objective/Purpose: The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore maternal feeding practices and beliefs of Hispanic mothers of preschool-age children.
Methods: A convenience sample of six mothers completed a demographic survey and answered open-ended questions developed from the social ecological model (SEM), modified for childhood obesity, regarding their feeding experiences and beliefs. Children’s weight and height were obtained from maternal reports. Interviews were transcribed, and thematic analysis was employed to code using the SEM for themes.
Results: Three themes emerged from the data: food available in the home, maternal control over feeding, and cultural differences. Mothers who perceived they had control over their food choices made healthier food choices. Mothers who perceived food choices were out of their control were more likely to make unhealthy choices.
Conclusion: In this study, participants were able to differentiate between healthy and unhealthy food choices for their children, even though they were not always able to provide healthy food. This information provides insight into how nurses working with Hispanic mothers could help them find resources for accessible healthy foods. Mothers who perceived they had control over feeding practices and strong support systems had children with healthier weights. Direction for future research should focus on obtaining observations from the school and community environments. Future research is needed to collect data on maternal feeding practices and beliefs from a larger sample. Data should include country of origin to determine similarities and differences based on demographic variables. In addition, further research should incorporate other levels of the social ecologic model, such as the school and community settings, to determine modifications that can be made to these environments to provide easier access to healthy foods.