CULTURAL FACTORS AFFECTING DIET AND PREGNANCY OUTCOME OF MEXICAN-AMERICAN ADOLESCENTS.
Contributors: University of California, Berkeley.
Published: 1995
Number of pages: 168
Subjects: Health Sciences, Nutrition.; Anthropology, Cultural.; Health Sciences, Nursing.; Sociology, Ethnic and Racial Studies.
Description: This descriptive exploratory study examined the nutritional knowledge, attitudes toward weight gain during pregnancy, and food intake of Mexican-American adolescents and the relationship these factors have to pregnancy outcome in terms of total weight gain and baby's birthweight.

The study was conducted with a convenient sample of 48 pregnant adolescents, whose ethnicity was self-identified as Mexican-American, who were primigravidas, and whose age ranged from 13 to 18 years. Two personal interviews were conducted with each participant. The time points for the two interviews were during the second (18 to 22 weeks gestation) and third trimesters (30 to 34 weeks gestation). The main measurements were nutrient intake, nutritional knowledge, attitude towards weight gain, and degree of acculturation. The proxy for acculturation was length of residence in the United States, G1 (3-12 months), G2 (12-48 months), and G3 (48-216 months). In addition, qualitative methods were used to describe cultural beliefs, behaviors, and attitudes during pregnancy.

G3 were the youngest group at time of conception, gained the most weight during pregnancy, were most knowledgeable about nutrition, and were most educated; they also were single and lived with their parents. There were no differences regarding the adequacy of diet during pregnancy among the three groups, and all diets adhered to as much as 85% of the Mean Adequacy Ratio (MAR). The total weight gain was adequate for adolescents according to present recommendations (mean value 31.83 lbs). There were no statistical differences in birth weight for the three groups (mean value 7.23 lbs). It was found that Mexican cultural food habits contributed significantly to the energy and nutrient intake of the participants and that adolescent diets during pregnancy differed from reported Mexican diets at other stages of life. The most powerful factors that contributed to good food practices during pregnancy were the well being of the baby, role of motherhood, and family support system. It was found that, with acculturation, the adolescents lost most of their traditional Mexican cultural beliefs related to pregnancy.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 57-03, Section: B, page: 1718.

Thesis (PH.D.)--UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, BERKELEY, 1995.

School code: 0028.