Premium
Nutrition knowledge and diets in new mothers
Author(s) -
FreelandGraves Jeanne H,
Cahill Jodi M,
Sanghani Bijal V,
Lu Hongxing,
Kitchen Jacqueline F,
KloheLehman Debbie M
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.21.5.a303-a
Subject(s) - micronutrient , medicine , anthropometry , breastfeeding , riboflavin , food group , spouse , food science , zoology , environmental health , pediatrics , biology , pathology , sociology , anthropology
Whether nutrition knowledge is related to diets in low‐income, new mothers is unclear. Knowledge of weight management, child nutrition, macronutrients and micronutrients was assessed in low‐income mothers at 6 weeks postpartum. Anthropometrics were taken and 24‐hour recall, 2‐day diets, demographics, nutrition knowledge and food frequencies were administered. Total knowledge was higher with breastfeeding (p<.001), living with spouse/partner (p<.05), and being Caucasian (p<.001) or Hispanic (p<.01). Weight management (p<.01), child (p<.05) and macronutrient (p<.001) knowledge were lower in African Americans vs. Caucasians. Women with higher weight management knowledge had lower energy (r = −.18, p <.05), fat (r = −.17, p<.05), carbohydrate (r = −.18, p<.05), and sugar (r = −.23, p <.05) intakes and consumed more vegetable servings/day (r = .25, p<.05). Child nutrition knowledge was positively related to calcium (r = .22, p<.05), fiber (r = .18, p<.05), and iron (r = .16, p<.05) intakes and lower BMI (r = −.18, p <.05). Those with greater micronutrient knowledge ate more servings of grains, with higher thiamin, riboflavin, B6, B12, folate, and calcium intakes, after controlling for energy (p<0.05). These findings suggest that nutrition knowledge varies according to ethnicity and breast feeding in new mothers, and it may influence diets. Supported by TX Coordination Board, # UTA00‐377.