PUERTO RICAN CULTURAL BELIEFS: INFLUENCE ON INFANT FEEDING PRACTICES IN WESTERN NEW YORK.
Contributors: University of Colorado Health Sciences Center.
Published: 1995
Number of pages: 200
Subjects: Health Sciences, Nursing.; Anthropology, Cultural.; Health Sciences, Nutrition.
Description: The purpose of the study was to explore the cultural beliefs of Puerto Rican families and generate a rich description of beliefs, values and lifeways that inform feeding practices and influence the nutritional status of infants and young children. Anticipatory guidance related to infants and children's nutrition and feeding behaviors is a major component of pediatric nursing practice. Cultural beliefs and practices most likely have the greatest influence on nutritional status in Puerto Rican families as in any population group.

The specific domains of inquiry were to: (1) describe the cultural beliefs of Puerto Rican families and generate a rich description of cultural beliefs, values and lifeways; (2) explore the linkages between cultural beliefs and values and their influence on infant feeding practices (breast, bottle, and beikost); (3) explore Puerto Rican folk practices and their influence on feeding practices; (4) describe the influence of extended family on infant feeding practices; (5) discover the influence of acculturation on infant feeding practices.

The theoretical framework guiding the study was Leininger's culture care theory (1970-1991a). The method utilized was a qualitative ethnonursing design which focused on health beliefs, practices, and caring behaviors within a cultural context (Leininger, 1970-1991a). Ten key and five general informants who best represented the culture were purposefully chosen for the study. Congruent with the theory, thirteen universal and six diverse themes were extracted from emic data. Subsequent analysis revealed themes, patterns, and emic care constructs.

Major universal themes identified the dimensions of kinship, cultural values and lifeways, and philosophical beliefs exerted the primary influence on infant feeding practices. The cultural belief that big is healthy supports the cultural ideology, big is beautiful. Feeding practices were found to be integrally related to cultural health beliefs. Feeding and folk practices were a manifestation of nurturant and protective care. Models of health care utilizing the cultural care modalities of preservation, accommodation and repatterning are suggested to facilitate the provision of culturally congruent care for the Puerto Rican infant and child in an ambulatory setting.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 56-10, Section: B, page: 5417.

Thesis (PH.D.)--UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO HEALTH SCIENCES CENTER, 1995.

School code: 0831.