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Cultural Influences on Complementary Feeding Beliefs amongst New Chinese Immigrant Mothers in England: A Mixed Methods Study

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  • Xiaoning Zhang

    (School of Nursing, Xuzhou Medical University, 209 Tongshan Road, Xuzhou 221004, China
    School of Nursing, Capital Medical University, 10 YouAnMen Xitoutiao, Beijing 100069, China
    Population, Policy and Practice Research and Teaching Department, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, 30 Guilford Street, London WC1N 1EH, UK
    The first two authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Diana Margot Rosenthal

    (Population, Policy and Practice Research and Teaching Department, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, 30 Guilford Street, London WC1N 1EH, UK
    Collaborative Centre for Inclusion Health, UCL Institute of Epidemiology and Health Care, University College London, London WC1E 7HB, UK
    The first two authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Lorna Benton

    (Population, Policy and Practice Research and Teaching Department, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, 30 Guilford Street, London WC1N 1EH, UK)

  • Monica Lakhanpaul

    (Population, Policy and Practice Research and Teaching Department, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, 30 Guilford Street, London WC1N 1EH, UK
    Collaborative Centre for Inclusion Health, UCL Institute of Epidemiology and Health Care, University College London, London WC1E 7HB, UK)

Abstract

Adequate nutrition during infancy and early childhood is essential for ensuring the growth, health, and development of children so that they can reach their full potential. There is a current void of data on infant and young child feeding practices (IYCF) in ethnic minority communities in the UK; specifically, it is difficult to find accurate Chinese IYCF data in the UK because survey data often includes Chinese in the category of ‘Chinese or other ethnic group’, further contributing to health inequalities. This mixed methods study aimed to explore the cultural influences on IYCF beliefs among new Chinese immigrant mothers. A total of 31 mothers of infants aged 6–23 months were recruited from informal community organizations. All 31 mothers were born in Mainland China, the mean length of their stay after immigrating to the UK was 10 years (range = 1–21 years), and their mean age was 29 ± 3.40 years. When using the Infant Feeding Style Questionnaire (IFSQ) to investigate IYCF beliefs, the highest score was obtained for responsive attention, with a value of 4.28 ± 0.92, indicating that parents were very attentive to child hunger and satiety cues; lower scores were obtained for indulgence soothing (1.82 ± 1.01), indulgence coaxing (2.11 ± 1.18), indulgence pampering (1.90 ± 0.95), and pressuring to soothe (1.92 ± 0.86), indicating lesser maternal indulgence and pressuring/controlling beliefs. A sub-sample ( n = 14) participated in semi-structured interviews in order to understand the balancing sources of information and cultural preferences, the influence of traditional Chinese medicine, and language difficulties in accessing health services. The mothers reported barriers of IYCF beliefs and the introduction of solid foods earlier than the NHS guidelines. This study can promote optimal IYCF in Chinese immigrants and show health services the need to reconcile differences between the perceptions of British and Chinese health beliefs.

Suggested Citation

  • Xiaoning Zhang & Diana Margot Rosenthal & Lorna Benton & Monica Lakhanpaul, 2020. "Cultural Influences on Complementary Feeding Beliefs amongst New Chinese Immigrant Mothers in England: A Mixed Methods Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(15), pages 1-21, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:15:p:5468-:d:391487
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Green, Gill & Bradby, Hannah & Chan, Anita & Lee, Maggie, 2006. ""We are not completely Westernised": Dual medical systems and pathways to health care among Chinese migrant women in England," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 62(6), pages 1498-1509, March.
    2. Xiaoning Zhang & Lorna Benton, 2019. "The Association of Acculturation and Complementary Infant and Young Child Feeding Practices Among New Chinese Immigrant Mothers in England: A Mixed Methods Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(18), pages 1-22, September.
    3. Koo, Linda C., 1984. "The use of food to treat and prevent disease in chinese culture," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 18(9), pages 757-766, January.
    4. Smith, G.D., 2000. "Learning to live with complexity: Ethnicity, socioeconomic position, and health in Britain and the United States," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 90(11), pages 1694-1698.
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