{"title":"Supporting Breastmilk Feeding for Infants in Foster Care: A Scoping Review.","authors":"Vicky Mitchell, Marianne White, Shona Shinwell, Camila Biazus-Dalcin","doi":"10.1111/mcn.13810","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/mcn.13810","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Worldwide, around 2.7 million children are not in the care of their parents, and access to breastmilk is often absent from foster care policies. We aimed to explore the evidence available on how foster families, health and social workers and mothers with infants in care can be supported in providing breastfeeding and expressed breastmilk (EBM), and to identify barriers and facilitators for breastfeeding and EMB in foster care. The JBI methodology for scoping reviews was used. Three academic databases and grey literature were searched in March 2023, and data extraction charts were used. The findings were synthesised using thematic analysis. In total, 11 papers were included, 5 peer-reviewed papers and 6 from the grey literature. Five themes were identified in the analysis: 'Is this safe?', 'Substance use: Protecting the breastfeeding rights of mothers and infants', 'Making milk accessible through breastfeeding and EBM', 'Where are the policies'? and 'Attitudes around breastfeeding'. The findings showed concern from foster parents around the safety of breastmilk and the challenges of supporting breastmilk provision when infants are in foster care. Training, positive attitudes and multi-disciplinary team involvement can support breastfeeding and the breastfeeding rights for infants in foster care. Health and social care professionals who support mothers and foster families with breastfeeding and EBM feeding lack knowledge and guidance in how to do this safely and with a rights-based approach. We found that facilitating breastfeeding is not prioritised when an infant is placed into foster care and that the breastfeeding rights of mothers and infants require urgent attention in policies and guidelines to facilitate safe and person-centred infant feeding.</p>","PeriodicalId":51112,"journal":{"name":"Maternal and Child Nutrition","volume":" ","pages":"e13810"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-02-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143383977","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Lauren Thompson, Charles Arnold, Janet Peerson, Julie M Long, Jamie L E Westcott, M Munirul Islam, Robert E Black, Nancy F Krebs, Christine M McDonald
{"title":"Predictors of Anaemia Among Young Children Receiving Daily Micronutrient Powders (MNPs) for 24 Weeks in Bangladesh: A Secondary Analysis of the Zinc in Powders Trial.","authors":"Lauren Thompson, Charles Arnold, Janet Peerson, Julie M Long, Jamie L E Westcott, M Munirul Islam, Robert E Black, Nancy F Krebs, Christine M McDonald","doi":"10.1111/mcn.13806","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/mcn.13806","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In Bangladesh, anaemia is estimated to affect 52% of children 6-59 months, with the youngest children (6-23 months) experiencing the highest levels of anaemia (71%). Micronutrient powders (MNPs) are designed to increase micronutrient intake in young children; however, in some settings, the prevalence of anaemia may remain elevated despite the high coverage of MNPs. In a secondary analysis of the Zinc in Powders trial (ZiPT), we identified risk factors that were associated with anaemia among Bangladeshi children 9-11 months of age who received standard 15-component MNPs, including 10 mg of iron, daily for 24 weeks. At enrolment, socio-demographic characteristics were collected. Morbidity symptoms were assessed on a semi-weekly basis. Haemoglobin (measured via single-drop capillary blood using Hemocue 301+) and child anthropometry were assessed at enrolment and endline (24 weeks). Risk factors for anaemia at endline (24 weeks) were identified using minimally adjusted (age and sex) logistic regression models. Multivariate models were subsequently constructed, controlling for age, sex and significant risk factors. Of the 481 children randomized to the MNP arm, 442 completed the trial and had haemoglobin data available at endline. Anaemia (haemoglobin < 10.5 g/dL) prevalence declined from 54.1% at baseline to 32.6% at endline. In minimally adjusted models, season of enrolment, underweight at enrolment, asset score, hygiene score and frequent morbidity symptoms were associated with the odds of anaemia at endline. However, some factors lost statistical significance in multivariate models. MNPs are an important tool for anaemia prevention; however, they should be part of an integrated approach for anaemia control.</p>","PeriodicalId":51112,"journal":{"name":"Maternal and Child Nutrition","volume":" ","pages":"e13806"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-02-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143383970","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Institutional Capacity and Practices for Maternal Anemia in China.","authors":"Lijun Liu, Jiangli Di, Xiaona Huang, Yuning Yang, Anuradha Narayan, Sidi Chen","doi":"10.1111/mcn.13803","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/mcn.13803","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In China, a range of anemia prevention and treatment measures have been developed and implemented in recent decades. These measures provide a regulatory basis for implementing standardized maternal anemia prevention and treatment services in China. However, little is known about the adoption of these interventions by health professionals, the capacity of health facilities to screen for iron deficiency and anemia, or the level of compliance among pregnant and lactating women (PLW). Thus, this study explored the alignment between maternal anemia prevention and control services provided and generated evidence for potential policy and program revisions and updates. A cross-sectional survey was conducted between November 2019 and January 2020. A total of 11 counties from 6 provinces across eastern, central and western regions of China were selected for the survey. In the surveyed sites, a total of 42 health institutions were enrolled in the survey, and a total of 201 health providers and 1714 PLW were enrolled in the suervey and completed the questionnaires. The results of this study showed that iron supplements containing 30 and 60 mg of iron were available in one third of the health facilities surveyed. All obstetricians reported ordering the Hb test for pregnant women receiving antenatal care (ANC) services, and 87.6% ordered the ferritin test. The proportion of obstetricians who ordered the ferritin test at the township level facilities (79.4%) was significantly lower than that at the provincial (100%), prefectural (87.5%) and county (87.1%) level facilities (p < 0.05). Around 89.6% and 90.5% of obstetricians prescribed iron to pregnant women when they were diagnosed with anemia and ID, respectively. 41.3% of obstetricians advised women to take preventive iron throughout their pregnancy. The proportion of obstetricians from township level hospitals that advised women to take preventative iron throughout their pregnancy (61.5%) was significantly lower than that from provincial facilities (23.5%) (p < 0.05). A total of 95.2% and 47.9% of PLW reported receiving the Hb test and the serum ferritin test during their pregnancy, respectively. There are some barriers and bottlenecks in the effective implementation of anemia intervention measures for pregnant women in China. Therefore, to achieve international and national targets on further reducing maternal anemia prevalence, comprehensive actions need to be taken.</p>","PeriodicalId":51112,"journal":{"name":"Maternal and Child Nutrition","volume":" ","pages":"e13803"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-02-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143366626","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Andrea D Dorbu, Hannah B Waddel, Manpreet K Chadha, Daniel López de Romaña, Mandana Arabi, Reneé H Moore, Christina Mehta, Helena Pachón
{"title":"Nutritional Anemia Reductions Due to Food Fortification Among Women of Childbearing Age: A Literature Review and Bayesian Meta-Analysis.","authors":"Andrea D Dorbu, Hannah B Waddel, Manpreet K Chadha, Daniel López de Romaña, Mandana Arabi, Reneé H Moore, Christina Mehta, Helena Pachón","doi":"10.1111/mcn.13801","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/mcn.13801","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Food fortification can deliver essential micronutrients to populations at a large scale, thereby reducing nutritional anemia. This study aimed to review and meta-analyze the literature on the impact of wheat flour, maize flour, rice, and oil (singly or combined) fortification on women's (10-49 years) hemoglobin and anemia. A search of 17 databases yielded 2284 results. Longitudinal, pre-post cross-sectional, efficacy, and effectiveness studies were included. Primary outcomes were changes in hemoglobin concentration and anemia prevalence. Studies were synthesized using arm-based network meta-analysis. In women who consumed fortified rice, hemoglobin mean change was 3.24 g/L (95% credibility interval (CrI) 0.9, 5.98), higher than for women in the control, with a 99.1% probability that the true mean difference was > 0. Hemoglobin was 2.08 g/L (95% CrI -0.76, 4.35) higher in women who consumed wheat flour versus control, with a 93.5% probability that the true mean difference was > 0. After rice fortification, anemia prevalence in women was 1.38 percentage points (95% CrI -106.6, 99.2) lower than for control women, with a 51.2% probability that the true mean difference was < 0. Wheat flour fortification decreased anemia prevalence by 1.84 percentage points (95% CrI -93.4, 92.4) with a 52.72% probability that the true mean difference was < 0. The treatment effects of fortified maize flour and fortified oil could not be calculated due to the absence of control arms compared to the intervention arms. Fortified rice and wheat flour appear likely to modestly increase hemoglobin and may also reduce anemia in women of childbearing age.</p>","PeriodicalId":51112,"journal":{"name":"Maternal and Child Nutrition","volume":" ","pages":"e13801"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-02-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143124096","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Piloting Multiple Micronutrient Supplementation Within the Routine Antenatal Care System in Ethiopia: Insights From Stakeholders","authors":"Anene Tesfa Berhanu, Atkure Defar, Girum Taye, Alemneh Kabeta Daba, Senait Alemayehu, Bedasa Tessema, Kalkidan Zenebe, Charles Opondo, Getachew Tollera, Mesay Hailu, Joanna Schellenberg, Lars Ake Persson, Tanya Marchant, Masresha Tessema","doi":"10.1111/mcn.13809","DOIUrl":"10.1111/mcn.13809","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 <p>In low and middle-income countries, addressing maternal and child nutrition needs is crucial. Prenatal multiple micronutrient supplementation (MMS) holds promise in reducing low birthweight and preterm births. Ethiopia is considering a transition from the provision of iron-folate supplementation to the provision of MMS in antenatal care, guided by WHO guidelines. This paper explores stakeholders' early perceptions and experiences in piloting that transition in five Ethiopian regions, informing decision making about future policy and scale-up. We used a qualitative study involving interviews and document reviews to assess the MMS pilot, analyzing themes with Nvivo 12 software. Key informant interviews revealed challenges such as supply chain issues and funding constraints, along with proposed improvement strategies such as closer coordination within existing structures. The importance of engaging with communities to create demand was emphasized, as was the need for capacity-building efforts utilizing existing staff in the health system with a clear plan for ongoing refresher training. Finally, enhancing the monitoring and evaluation framework, including a dedicated regional team for supportive supervision, was vital for accountability. In conclusion, prioritizing supply chain strengthening, community engagement through demand creation, coordination, and continuous capacity building for healthcare workers were thought to be crucial for the MMS program's success.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Trial Registration</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05708183 Registered 01 February 2023—Retrospectively registered, https://classic.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05708183.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":51112,"journal":{"name":"Maternal and Child Nutrition","volume":"21 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-01-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/mcn.13809","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143069359","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Infant Feeding Practices in Ethiopia: Birth Cohort Study in Five Regions","authors":"Amare Tariku, Kassahun Alemu, Joanna Schellenberg, Tanya Marchant, Della Berhanu, Seblewengel Lemma, Atkure Defar, Theodros Getachew, Zewditu Abdissa, Tadesse Guadu, Solomon Shiferaw, Girum Taye, Meseret Zelalem, Lars Åke Persson","doi":"10.1111/mcn.13804","DOIUrl":"10.1111/mcn.13804","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Appropriate infant feeding is crucial to ensure optimal child growth and survival. We aimed to assess infants' breastfeeding and complementary feeding practices from 0 to 12 months in Ethiopia. This study was a secondary analysis of data from the Ethiopia Performance Monitoring for Action panel study performed from July 2020 to August 2021. One thousand eight hundred and fifty infants were included from five Ethiopian regions: Addis Ababa City Administration, Oromia, Amhara, Afar, and Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Regions. Appropriate infant feeding practices were assessed using the World Health Organization measurement criteria and descriptive analysis. One-year-old infants were considered to have a diversified diet if they had complementary feeding comprising five or more food groups. Two-thirds (67%, 95% CI: 63, 71) of newborns were put to the breast within 1 h after delivery. The median duration of exclusive breastfeeding was 6.5 months, and 69% (95% CI: 67, 71) were exclusively breastfed at 5 months. Almost all (97%; 95% CI: 96, 98) were still breastfeeding at 12 months. Sixteen percent (95% CI: 13, 19) of infants (boys 15%, girls 16%) aged 12 months had a diversified diet, and 49% (95% CI: 44, 55) consumed sugary foods or beverages. Most Ethiopian infants had appropriate breastfeeding practices, while almost all had poor-quality complementary food at 1 year. Increasing access to high-quality education on infant feeding is crucial to maintaining and enhancing appropriate breastfeeding practices and complementary food quality. Intensifying poverty reduction efforts are essential to improve infants' dietary diversity and nutrient-dense food consumption.</p>","PeriodicalId":51112,"journal":{"name":"Maternal and Child Nutrition","volume":"21 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-01-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/mcn.13804","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143069376","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Maiko Kamata, Catherine Pereira-Kotze, Marko Kerac, Victoria Sibson
{"title":"Formula Labelling in the United Kingdom: Manufacturers' Compliance With the Code, UK Law and Guidance Notes","authors":"Maiko Kamata, Catherine Pereira-Kotze, Marko Kerac, Victoria Sibson","doi":"10.1111/mcn.13794","DOIUrl":"10.1111/mcn.13794","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes (‘the Code’) was established to protect babies and young children from inappropriate marketing of formula milk, bottles and teats and avoid undue commercial influence on caregiver infant feeding practices, including undermining breastfeeding and safe and appropriate formula feeding. UK law encompasses some but not all of the Code. To address persisting concerns about the marketing of infant formula (IF) and follow-on formula (FoF), we assessed labelling compliance in the UK against relevant provisions in the Code, UK law and Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) Guidance Notes which interpret UK law. Data were collected during July and August 2022 by taking pictures of labels from company websites, in shops and online. We developed three labelling checklists to systematically assess compliance and to compare compliance scores between the regulatory frameworks, formula types and brands. We assessed 57 labels (<i>n</i> = 32 IF and <i>n</i> = 25 FoF) and found low overall compliance: 50% complied with UK law, 32% with Guidance Notes and 40% with the Code. None of the labels complied with provisions prohibiting idealising text and photographs, nutrition and health claims (where relevant) and cross-promotion between formula types. In conclusion, UK IF and FoF labels violate many of the provisions of all three regulatory frameworks. This is evidence of inappropriate marketing. The UK law should be better enforced and strengthened in line with the Code to protect breastfeeding, support safer, appropriate formula feeding and lessen commercial influence on infant feeding practices.</p>","PeriodicalId":51112,"journal":{"name":"Maternal and Child Nutrition","volume":"21 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-01-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/mcn.13794","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143069375","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Farah Behbehani, Kristen M. Hurley, Maureen M. Black
{"title":"Parent-Reported Feeding Practices Associated With Children's Observed Willingness-to-Try-New-Foods in Childcare","authors":"Farah Behbehani, Kristen M. Hurley, Maureen M. Black","doi":"10.1111/mcn.13798","DOIUrl":"10.1111/mcn.13798","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Feeding behaviours are established early in life, with lifelong influences on children's appetite, growth and health, emphasizing the importance of understanding how parent–child feeding interactions relate to children's eating and growth patterns. The objective was to examine reciprocity between parent-reported feeding practices and children's observed willingness-to-try-new-foods in childcare settings without parental presence, thereby assessing independence from context and parental influence. The sample included parent–child dyads (<i>n</i> = 436) recruited from 51 childcare centres across 10 counties. Parent-reported feeding practices, children's observed willingness-to-try-new-foods and children's height and weight were measured using the Comprehensive Feeding Practices Questionnaire (CFPQ), a food tasting activity and standardized anthropometric protocols, respectively. Logistic and linear regression models assessed associations between parent-reported feeding practices and children's observed willingness-to-try-new-foods, as well as body mass index z-score (BMIz), respectively. All models adjusted for potential confounders, including clustering within childcare centres. Children's observed willingness-to-try-new-foods was positively associated with parent-reported restriction for weight control, suggesting independence from context. A child-driven interpretation suggests parental perceptions of children's high food responsivity or concerns about excess weight gain and a parent-driven interpretation suggests that children exhibit higher willingness-to-try-new-foods in response to parental weight-related restriction. Children's observed willingness-to-try-new-foods was not related to other parent-reported feeding practices. Child BMIz was positively associated with parent-reported restriction for weight and health and negatively associated with pressuring and giving children control over food intake. Future research is needed to determine factors associated with child and parent-driven interpretations of feeding practices and effective strategies to promote responsive parent feeding practices.</p>","PeriodicalId":51112,"journal":{"name":"Maternal and Child Nutrition","volume":"21 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-01-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/mcn.13798","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143061290","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Edward A. Frongillo, Jessica Escobar-DeMarco, Sujata Bose
{"title":"Assessment of Four Essential Features of the Alive & Thrive Initiative to Improve Maternal, Infant, Young Child, and Adolescent Nutrition","authors":"Edward A. Frongillo, Jessica Escobar-DeMarco, Sujata Bose","doi":"10.1111/mcn.13800","DOIUrl":"10.1111/mcn.13800","url":null,"abstract":"<p><i>Alive & Thrive</i> has been a major global nutrition initiative that aimed to learn how to improve maternal, infant, young child, and adolescent nutrition and health on a large scale. During 2009–2014, <i>Alive & Thrive</i> developed and implemented interventions to improve infant and young child feeding at scale in three countries. Subsequently, <i>Alive & Thrive</i> expanded its work to more than 15 geographies, including six country-specific and two regional programs, to additionally address maternal and adolescent nutrition while adding agriculture and social protection programs to improve maternal, infant, and young child nutrition. Reflecting on the big picture of what the <i>Alive & Thrive</i> initiative has accomplished in its 16 years and how it did so, four features warranted emphasis because additional learning was needed. These four features were: commitment to exemplary large-scale social and behaviour change communication, explicit focus on policy and advocacy to achieve and sustain change, promotion of country-led initiatives through technical assistance, and attention to quality assurance and improvement in programming. For each feature, an assessment across the <i>Alive & Thrive</i> portfolio was commissioned, each led by an external consultant or team. The assessments highlighted designing and implementing exemplary social and behaviour change programming and policy advocacy in each country, undertaking a large-scale effort through careful, in-depth, and evidence-based planning that is bolstered by strong engagement with relevant stakeholders at multiple levels. The assessments also highlighted technical assistance that is responsive to country contexts to support country-led initiatives and attention to assuring and improving the quality of programming to achieve effectiveness.</p>","PeriodicalId":51112,"journal":{"name":"Maternal and Child Nutrition","volume":"21 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-01-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/mcn.13800","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143048623","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Mar Lozano-Casanova, Silvia Escribano, Isabel Sospedra, Antonio Oliver-Roig, Miguel Richart-Martinez
{"title":"Identifying Parental Feeding Patterns in a Spanish Sample of Toddlers Using a Latent Class Analysis","authors":"Mar Lozano-Casanova, Silvia Escribano, Isabel Sospedra, Antonio Oliver-Roig, Miguel Richart-Martinez","doi":"10.1111/mcn.13799","DOIUrl":"10.1111/mcn.13799","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Parental feeding styles are an important factor influencing child development. Traditionally, they have been classified into four styles based on cut-off points for responsiveness and demandingness. However, alternative methods, such as latent class analysis (LCA), allow for the detection of underlying homogeneous populations. The aims of this study are to: (a) identify different parental feeding styles in a Spanish sample using LCA; (b) explore the characteristics of the classes of different parenting styles, taking into account sociodemographic and psychological variables; and (c) compare the classification of parental feeding styles by assessment method: LCA versus the median split cut-off point to determine high and low levels for each dimension. A cross-sectional study (<i>n</i> = 774, including fathers and mothers of toddlers) was conducted to perform a one-step LCA with covariates, using items that assess the demandingness and responsiveness feeding dimensions. Cross-tabulations were performed to compare the use of LCA versus the median cut-off point for assessing parental feeding styles/patterns. Four different patterns emerged from the LCA, characterised by high or moderate scores for responsiveness and varying scores for demandingness. These were labelled as the Moderately Authoritative, Authoritative, Moderate, and Indulgent classes. Mothers were more likely to belong to the Indulgent class, and high levels of parental stress increased the likelihood of parents belonging to the Moderate class. The classification of participants was not consistent between the two methods. Authoritarian and uninvolved feeding behaviours were not detected using LCA. In conclusion, gender and parental stress were factors that may help to explain the distribution of parents across feeding styles. These variables should therefore be considered when studying different populations. Furthermore, LCA could be utilised to design more accurate intervention strategies by helping to identify common needs among parents.</p>","PeriodicalId":51112,"journal":{"name":"Maternal and Child Nutrition","volume":"21 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-01-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/mcn.13799","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143054243","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}