Parent attitude
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Exploring parents attitudes and experience of education and support linked to introducing solid foods into their child’s diet. An exploratory pilot study
IRAS ID
100794
Contact name
Duane Mellor
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Chester
Research summary
Introduction of solid food to an infant’s diet is a crucial and everyday step for all parents. Despite guidelines from expert groups and government organisations and advice from health professionals, a number of studies suggest that a large proportion of the population do not follow the advice, as although it suggests that all mothers are aware of current recommendations, few know the reasons behind them and so frequently dismiss it. It is also suggested that advice is frequently taken from non-health professionals, mainly family and friends.
The public health implications of noncompliance on such a scale remain unclear but early introduction of solid food is discouraged due to associations with excessive weight gain, the increased risk of infection, and increases in the risk of allergic disease. The understanding behind why the guidance is not adopted and how this guidance can have a further reaching effect is therefore beneficial to both the health profession and families.
This study therefore aims to explore the knowledge, expectations and influences a parent has on the introduction of solid foods. This will be achieved through semi-structured focus groups. Based on statistics showing that the adherence to guidelines is lowest in areas of low socio-economic status, the research will be conducted across urban Greater Manchester at 4 different children’s centres to explore the reasons behind this.
Participants will be required to attend only one session where open ended questions regarding experiences and attitudes toward their own complementary feeding and knowledge of existing literature will be explored. The focus groups will last between 60-90 minutes and participants will be made fully aware of the purpose of the group, and that they are being recorded for the benefit of the researcher only.REC name
London - Bromley Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
13/LO/1064
Date of REC Opinion
2 Jul 2013
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion