Alexander Dayna S, Alfonso Moya L, Hansen Andrew R
Department of Community Health Behavior and Education, Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health, Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, GA, 30460, USA,
J Community Health. 2015 Apr;40(2):367-78. doi: 10.1007/s10900-014-9945-4.
Given the pivotal role of African American caregiver's perceptions of childhood obesity in rural areas, the inclusion of caregiver's perceptions could potentially reduce childhood obesity rates. The objective of the current study was to explore childhood obesity perceptions among African Americans in a rural Georgia community. This concurrent mixed methods study utilized two theoretical frameworks: Social Cognitive Theory and Social Ecological Model. Using a convenience sample, caregivers ages 22-65 years completed a paper-based survey (n = 135) and a face-to-face interview (n = 12) to explore perceptions of obesity risk factors, health complications, weight status, built environment features, and obesity prevention approaches. Descriptive statistics were generated and a six-step process was used for qualitative analysis. Participants commonly cited behavioral risk factors; yet, social aspects and appearance of the community were not considered contributing factors. Chronic diseases were reported as obesity health complications. Caregivers had a distorted view of their child's weight status. In addition, analysis revealed that caregivers assessed child's weight and height measurements by the child's appearance or a recent doctor visit. Environmental barriers reported by caregivers included safety concerns and insufficient physical activity venues and programs. Also, caregivers conveyed parents are an imperative component of preventing obesity. Although this study found caregivers were aware of obesity risk factors, health complications, built environment features, and prevention approaches their obesity perceptions were not incorporated into school or community prevention efforts. Findings suggest that children residing in rural areas are in need of tailored efforts that address caregiver perceptions of obesity.
鉴于非裔美国看护者对农村地区儿童肥胖的认知起着关键作用，纳入看护者的认知可能会降低儿童肥胖率。本研究的目的是探讨佐治亚州农村社区中非裔美国人对儿童肥胖的认知。这项同步混合方法研究运用了两个理论框架：社会认知理论和社会生态模型。采用便利抽样法，22至65岁的看护者完成了一份纸质调查问卷（n = 135）和一次面对面访谈（n = 12），以探讨对肥胖风险因素、健康并发症、体重状况、建筑环境特征和肥胖预防方法的认知。生成了描述性统计数据，并使用六步流程进行定性分析。参与者普遍提到行为风险因素；然而，社区的社会层面和外观未被视为促成因素。慢性病被报告为肥胖的健康并发症。看护者对其孩子的体重状况存在扭曲的看法。此外，分析显示看护者通过孩子的外表或最近的医生就诊来评估孩子的体重和身高测量值。看护者报告的环境障碍包括安全问题以及体育活动场所和项目不足。此外，看护者表示父母是预防肥胖的重要组成部分。尽管本研究发现看护者了解肥胖风险因素、健康并发症、建筑环境特征和预防方法，但他们对肥胖的认知并未纳入学校或社区的预防工作中。研究结果表明，居住在农村地区的儿童需要针对看护者对肥胖的认知开展量身定制的工作。
