Lifecourse, immigrant status and acculturation in food purchasing and preparation among low-income mothers.

Full Abstract

OBJECTIVES:
This study investigates how lifecourse, immigrant status and acculturation, and neighbourhood of residence influence food purchasing and preparation among low-income women with children, living in the USA. This research sought to understand physical and economic access to food, from both 'individual' and 'community' perspectives.

DESIGN:
This study used qualitative methodology (focus groups) to examine the mechanisms and pathways of food preparation and purchasing within the context of daily life activity for US- and foreign-born women, living in the USA. The study methodology analysed notes and verbatim transcripts, summarised recurring responses and identified new themes in the discussions.

SETTING AND SUBJECTS:
A total of 44 women were purposively sampled from two metropolitan areas in Massachusetts, USA, based on (1) neighbourhood of residence and (2) primary language spoken. All focus groups were conducted in community health centres and community centres co-located with offices of the special supplemental nutritional programme for Women, Infants, and Children.

RESULTS:
Analysis of key response themes suggested that scarcity of food and physical access to food purchasing points did not influence food purchasing and preparation as much as (1) limited time for food shopping, cooking and family activities; and (2) challenges in transportation to stores and childcare. The study results demonstrated differing attitudes toward food acquisition and preparation between immigrant and US-born women and between women who lived in two metropolitan areas in the western and eastern regions of the state of Massachusetts, USA.

CONCLUSIONS:
The findings illustrate 'hidden' constraints that need to be captured in measures of physical and economic access and availability of food. US policies and programmes that aim to improve access, availability and diet quality would benefit from considering the social context of food preparation and purchasing, and the residential environments of low-income women and families.

Learn Faster Today Improve your study skills

Author information

Author/s: Dubowitz, Tamara (T); Acevedo-Garcia, Dolores (D); Salkeld, Judy (J); Lindsay, Ana Cristina (AC); Subramanian, S V (SV); Peterson, Karen E (KE);

Affiliation: RAND Corporation, 4570 Fifth Avenue, Suite 600, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA. dubowitz(-atsign-)rand.org

Grants: 1 R01 HD37368-01 (Agency:NICHD NIH HHS) ; 5P60MD-000207-04 (Agency:NCMHD NIH HHS) ; 5T76 MC 00001 (Agency:PHS HHS) ; F31-NS046161-02 (Agency:NINDS NIH HHS)

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

Journal: Public health nutrition (Public Health Nutr), published in England. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2007-Apr; vol 10 (issue 4) : pp 396-404

Dates: Created 2007/03/16; Completed 2007/05/29; Revised 2007/12/03;

PMID: 17362536, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

External Links for this article (including full text providers, if available):

Click Electronic Full-text Provider Links to see options for finding the electronic full text links to this article. Note there may be a subscription or fee required for access to the full text. See our FAQ for information on finding FREE full text articles.

This article may also be located in paper journal collections available in many libraries. Use the Journal and Publication Information above to find the full article.

MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Acculturation
Adult
Child Health Services
Child, Preschool
Commerce - economics; methods
Cookery
Diet - methods; standards
Educational Status
Emigration and Immigration
Female
Focus Groups

Food Handling - economics; methods
Food Supply - economics
Humans
Infant
Male
Marital Status
Maternal Health Services
Poverty
Public Assistance
Time Factors
Transportation

These are the highest related articles currently in the database:

See 100+ related articles.