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Pathways of the Association Between Maternal Employment and Weight Status Among Women and Children: Qualitative Findings from Guatemala
Author(s) -
Oddo Vanessa M,
Surkan Pamela J,
Hurley Kristen M,
Lowery Caitlin,
Ponce Silvia,
JonesSmith Jessica C
Publication year - 2017
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.31.1_supplement.147.6
Subject(s) - overweight , worry , thematic analysis , psychology , feeling , poverty , qualitative research , developmental psychology , environmental health , medicine , social psychology , obesity , sociology , political science , anxiety , psychiatry , social science , law
Several studies document an association between maternal employment and both under nutrition and overweight among women and children in low‐ and middle‐income countries (LMIC). However, the mechanisms by which employment may be related to maternal and child weight status are not well understood. We drew on a sample of 20 mothers participating in Project MIEL in rural Guatemala and utilized semi‐structured interviews to explore the pathways by which maternal employment might influence bodyweight. First, data were deductively analyzed by constructing descriptive categories based on the research question. We then inductively analyzed data using a combination of line‐by‐line and thematic coding. Key analytic categories were used as focused codes to identify salient themes. Themes were represented through exemplar quotes and used to develop a conceptual framework. Mothers described four pathways through which employment could lead to changes in weight status: employment changed food purchasing behaviors; employment improved household well‐being; employment changed maternal time allocation; and mothers perceived that employment had psychological effects. Mothers described purchasing increased quantities and more varied types of food, as well as the purchase of energy‐dense foods. Less time to devote to food preparation resulted in mothers preparing quicker meals and relying on substitute childcare. Mothers also expressed feelings of worry and neglect in relation to being employed, and perceived that these feelings would affect weight and health. A better understanding in this area is critical given the increasing prevalence of maternal employment, coinciding with an increasing burden of overweight in LMIC. Subsequent studies should further explore these pathways in other LMIC. Support or Funding Information Supported by the Clinical Research and Endocrinology Training Grant in Epidemiology in Diabetes (T32DK062707)Pathways by which maternal employment may play a role in maternal and child weight status