Responsive feeding practices among Arabic and Mongolian speaking migrant mothers in Australia: A qualitative study
Abstract Establishing healthy feeding habits during infancy is crucial for optimal growth. However, certain parental feeding and cultural practices might hinder the development of children's healthy eating behaviours. This research explored responsive feeding practices among migrant mothers in...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wiley
2025-01-01
|
| Series: | Maternal and Child Nutrition |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1111/mcn.13718 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1846118770932711424 |
|---|---|
| author | Danielle Jawad Li Ming Wen Louise Baur Chris Rissel Seema Mihrshahi Sarah Taki |
| author_facet | Danielle Jawad Li Ming Wen Louise Baur Chris Rissel Seema Mihrshahi Sarah Taki |
| author_sort | Danielle Jawad |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Establishing healthy feeding habits during infancy is crucial for optimal growth. However, certain parental feeding and cultural practices might hinder the development of children's healthy eating behaviours. This research explored responsive feeding practices among migrant mothers in Australia. Semi‐structured telephone interviews were conducted in their native language with 20 Arabic and 20 Mongolian‐speaking migrant mothers with children under 2 years old or currently pregnant. Thematic analysis was conducted using the framework method. Both cultural groups followed a variety of feeding practices, including on demand responsive feeding or structured schedules. Arabic‐speaking mothers tended to demonstrate responsive feeding practices more frequently than Mongolian‐speaking mothers, except for those using formula feeding, who consistently followed a fixed feeding routine. When introducing solid foods, mothers from both groups often overlooked their babies' hunger and satiety cues, frequently pressuring their children to finish their entire plate. One cited reason for this was the challenge parents faced in identifying such cues. Arabic‐speaking mothers often supplemented with formula top‐ups after introducing solid foods, due to the belief that breast milk or solid foods alone might not sufficiently nourish their infants. Additionally, some Arabic‐speaking mothers used food‐based rewards to encourage eating. Mongolian mothers expressed a cultural preference for chubby babies, a potential reason why they may have been inclined to pressure‐feed their children. Moreover, both groups reported using digital devices to distract their children during meals. This study highlights the necessity of tailoring future resources and services related to responsive feeding practices to accommodate diverse literacy levels and cultural backgrounds. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d121f942a0d740f0a63c4ef74ef2f2f7 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1740-8695 1740-8709 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Maternal and Child Nutrition |
| spelling | doaj-art-d121f942a0d740f0a63c4ef74ef2f2f72024-12-17T09:57:23ZengWileyMaternal and Child Nutrition1740-86951740-87092025-01-01211n/an/a10.1111/mcn.13718Responsive feeding practices among Arabic and Mongolian speaking migrant mothers in Australia: A qualitative studyDanielle Jawad0Li Ming Wen1Louise Baur2Chris Rissel3Seema Mihrshahi4Sarah Taki5Sydney School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health The University of Sydney Sydney AustraliaSydney School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health The University of Sydney Sydney AustraliaSydney School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health The University of Sydney Sydney AustraliaSydney School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health The University of Sydney Sydney AustraliaDepartment of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences Macquarie University Sydney New South Wales AustraliaSydney School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health The University of Sydney Sydney AustraliaAbstract Establishing healthy feeding habits during infancy is crucial for optimal growth. However, certain parental feeding and cultural practices might hinder the development of children's healthy eating behaviours. This research explored responsive feeding practices among migrant mothers in Australia. Semi‐structured telephone interviews were conducted in their native language with 20 Arabic and 20 Mongolian‐speaking migrant mothers with children under 2 years old or currently pregnant. Thematic analysis was conducted using the framework method. Both cultural groups followed a variety of feeding practices, including on demand responsive feeding or structured schedules. Arabic‐speaking mothers tended to demonstrate responsive feeding practices more frequently than Mongolian‐speaking mothers, except for those using formula feeding, who consistently followed a fixed feeding routine. When introducing solid foods, mothers from both groups often overlooked their babies' hunger and satiety cues, frequently pressuring their children to finish their entire plate. One cited reason for this was the challenge parents faced in identifying such cues. Arabic‐speaking mothers often supplemented with formula top‐ups after introducing solid foods, due to the belief that breast milk or solid foods alone might not sufficiently nourish their infants. Additionally, some Arabic‐speaking mothers used food‐based rewards to encourage eating. Mongolian mothers expressed a cultural preference for chubby babies, a potential reason why they may have been inclined to pressure‐feed their children. Moreover, both groups reported using digital devices to distract their children during meals. This study highlights the necessity of tailoring future resources and services related to responsive feeding practices to accommodate diverse literacy levels and cultural backgrounds.https://doi.org/10.1111/mcn.13718breastfeedingchild nutritioncultural groupscultural practicesfeeding practiceshunger and satiety cues |
| spellingShingle | Danielle Jawad Li Ming Wen Louise Baur Chris Rissel Seema Mihrshahi Sarah Taki Responsive feeding practices among Arabic and Mongolian speaking migrant mothers in Australia: A qualitative study Maternal and Child Nutrition breastfeeding child nutrition cultural groups cultural practices feeding practices hunger and satiety cues |
| title | Responsive feeding practices among Arabic and Mongolian speaking migrant mothers in Australia: A qualitative study |
| title_full | Responsive feeding practices among Arabic and Mongolian speaking migrant mothers in Australia: A qualitative study |
| title_fullStr | Responsive feeding practices among Arabic and Mongolian speaking migrant mothers in Australia: A qualitative study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Responsive feeding practices among Arabic and Mongolian speaking migrant mothers in Australia: A qualitative study |
| title_short | Responsive feeding practices among Arabic and Mongolian speaking migrant mothers in Australia: A qualitative study |
| title_sort | responsive feeding practices among arabic and mongolian speaking migrant mothers in australia a qualitative study |
| topic | breastfeeding child nutrition cultural groups cultural practices feeding practices hunger and satiety cues |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1111/mcn.13718 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT daniellejawad responsivefeedingpracticesamongarabicandmongolianspeakingmigrantmothersinaustraliaaqualitativestudy AT limingwen responsivefeedingpracticesamongarabicandmongolianspeakingmigrantmothersinaustraliaaqualitativestudy AT louisebaur responsivefeedingpracticesamongarabicandmongolianspeakingmigrantmothersinaustraliaaqualitativestudy AT chrisrissel responsivefeedingpracticesamongarabicandmongolianspeakingmigrantmothersinaustraliaaqualitativestudy AT seemamihrshahi responsivefeedingpracticesamongarabicandmongolianspeakingmigrantmothersinaustraliaaqualitativestudy AT sarahtaki responsivefeedingpracticesamongarabicandmongolianspeakingmigrantmothersinaustraliaaqualitativestudy |