The Journal of School Nursing

 

Advanced Search

Journal Navigation

Journal Home

Subscriptions

Archive

Contact Us

Table of Contents

Sign In to gain access to subscriptions and/or personal tools.
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow References
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to Saved Citations
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow Add to My Marked Citations
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Kelly, L. E.
Right arrow Articles by Patterson, B. J.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Kelly, L. E.
Right arrow Articles by Patterson, B. J.
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us   Add to Digg   Add to Reddit   Add to Technorati  
What's this?
The Journal of School Nursing, Vol. 22, No. 6, 345-351 (2006)
DOI: 10.1177/10598405060220060601

Childhood Nutrition: Perceptions of Caretakers in a Low-Income Urban Setting

Lynn E. Kelly, RN, PhD

Widener University School of Nursing, Chester, PA

Barbara J. Patterson, RN, PhD

Widener University School of Nursing, Chester, PA

The incidence of overweight and obese children, especially those from low-income and minority backgrounds, continues to rise. Multiple factors contribute to the rising rates. In order to gain an understanding of factors contributing to obesity in low-income families, a qualitative study was conducted with the purpose of gaining knowledge of low-income urban caretakers' understanding and attitudes regarding children's nutrition. A focused ethnography was used as a means of understanding behavior within the context of a person's cultural environment. The sample was 17 caretakers of children in the 1st—3rd grades. Four focus groups were conducted. Two themes emerged from caretakers' perceptions: knowing the right things children should eat and balancing healthy nutrition with unhealthy choices. Four categories emerged regarding influences on food choices: tradition, finances, time constraints, and role models. Lastly, five barriers and three facilitating factors emerged. Implications of the study findings for school nurses include the need, when implementing healthy eating programs for school children, to gain information from caretakers about their perceptions of childhood nutrition.

Key Words: childhood nutrition • focus groups • low-income • obesity • school nursing


Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us   Add to Digg Digg   Add to Reddit Reddit   Add to Technorati Technorati    What's this?