Caregivers’ perceptions, challenges and service needs related to tackling childhood overweight and obesity: a qualitative study in three districts of Shanghai, China
Abstract Background Childhood overweight and obesity (OWO) has become a major public concern worldwide including in Shanghai, one of the most developed areas of China. Understanding perceptions and challenges of tackling childhood OWO among caregivers of children is critical to provide services in n...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2021-04-01
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| Series: | BMC Public Health |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-021-10744-6 |
| _version_ | 1818647445991587840 |
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| author | Yanting Wu Xiaoying Ma William D. Fraser Mu Li Wei Wang Hefeng Huang Myriam Landry Yanhui Hao Han Liu Sonia Semenic Yan Zhang Haiqin Wang Jingya Zhang Jiale Yu Xuena La Congcong Zhang Isabelle Marc Hong Jiang |
| author_facet | Yanting Wu Xiaoying Ma William D. Fraser Mu Li Wei Wang Hefeng Huang Myriam Landry Yanhui Hao Han Liu Sonia Semenic Yan Zhang Haiqin Wang Jingya Zhang Jiale Yu Xuena La Congcong Zhang Isabelle Marc Hong Jiang |
| author_sort | Yanting Wu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Childhood overweight and obesity (OWO) has become a major public concern worldwide including in Shanghai, one of the most developed areas of China. Understanding perceptions and challenges of tackling childhood OWO among caregivers of children is critical to provide services in need. Methods A qualitative descriptive study including in-depth interviews with seven parents and six focus group discussions with a total of 32 parents or grandparents of children zero to 6 years of age. Participants lived in three districts of Shanghai and indexed children included both those with OWO or non-OWO children. Data were analyzed using qualitative thematic analysis. Results Caregivers tended to underestimate children’s weight status, and to regard chubby children as a sign of good parental care. Some caregivers even suggested that there were positive effects of childhood overweight. Caregivers identified a number of challenges to prevention of OWO in children, including difficulties in controlling dietary intake or increasing children’s physical activities; discordant views between parents and grandparents, and barriers to accessing professional guidance. Caregivers desired more detailed advice regarding children’s nutrition intake and physical activity, and preferred online approaches. Conclusions Misconceptions regarding childhood overweight were found in caregivers of children in Shanghai. Professional guidance on childhood weight control for caregivers is desired via digital applications such as mobile phone applications and social media. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-17T01:02:39Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a1f4cea6680543c696d1d08a3c4920f4 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-17T01:02:39Z |
| publishDate | 2021-04-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-a1f4cea6680543c696d1d08a3c4920f42022-12-21T22:09:24ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582021-04-0121111010.1186/s12889-021-10744-6Caregivers’ perceptions, challenges and service needs related to tackling childhood overweight and obesity: a qualitative study in three districts of Shanghai, ChinaYanting Wu0Xiaoying Ma1William D. Fraser2Mu Li3Wei Wang4Hefeng Huang5Myriam Landry6Yanhui Hao7Han Liu8Sonia Semenic9Yan Zhang10Haiqin Wang11Jingya Zhang12Jiale Yu13Xuena La14Congcong Zhang15Isabelle Marc16Hong Jiang17International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong UniversitySchool of Public Health, Key Laboratory of Health Technology Assessment, National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China, Fudan UniversityDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Université de Sherbrooke Centre de recherche du CHUS, CIUSSS de l’Estrie – CHUSSchool of Public Health, China Studies Centre, University of SydneySchool of Public Health, Key Laboratory of Health Technology Assessment, National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China, Fudan UniversityInternational Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong UniversityDepartment of Pediatrics, CHU de Quebec Université Laval research centerInternational Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong UniversityInternational Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong UniversityIngram School of Nursing, McGill UniversitySchool of Public Health, Key Laboratory of Health Technology Assessment, National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China, Fudan UniversityInternational Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong UniversitySchool of Public Health, Key Laboratory of Health Technology Assessment, National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China, Fudan UniversityInternational Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong UniversitySchool of Public Health, Key Laboratory of Health Technology Assessment, National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China, Fudan UniversitySchool of Public Health, Key Laboratory of Health Technology Assessment, National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China, Fudan UniversityDepartment of Pediatrics, CHU de Quebec Université Laval research centerSchool of Public Health, Key Laboratory of Health Technology Assessment, National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China, Fudan UniversityAbstract Background Childhood overweight and obesity (OWO) has become a major public concern worldwide including in Shanghai, one of the most developed areas of China. Understanding perceptions and challenges of tackling childhood OWO among caregivers of children is critical to provide services in need. Methods A qualitative descriptive study including in-depth interviews with seven parents and six focus group discussions with a total of 32 parents or grandparents of children zero to 6 years of age. Participants lived in three districts of Shanghai and indexed children included both those with OWO or non-OWO children. Data were analyzed using qualitative thematic analysis. Results Caregivers tended to underestimate children’s weight status, and to regard chubby children as a sign of good parental care. Some caregivers even suggested that there were positive effects of childhood overweight. Caregivers identified a number of challenges to prevention of OWO in children, including difficulties in controlling dietary intake or increasing children’s physical activities; discordant views between parents and grandparents, and barriers to accessing professional guidance. Caregivers desired more detailed advice regarding children’s nutrition intake and physical activity, and preferred online approaches. Conclusions Misconceptions regarding childhood overweight were found in caregivers of children in Shanghai. Professional guidance on childhood weight control for caregivers is desired via digital applications such as mobile phone applications and social media.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-021-10744-6Childhood overweight and obesityCaregiverBeliefsChallengesService needs |
| spellingShingle | Yanting Wu Xiaoying Ma William D. Fraser Mu Li Wei Wang Hefeng Huang Myriam Landry Yanhui Hao Han Liu Sonia Semenic Yan Zhang Haiqin Wang Jingya Zhang Jiale Yu Xuena La Congcong Zhang Isabelle Marc Hong Jiang Caregivers’ perceptions, challenges and service needs related to tackling childhood overweight and obesity: a qualitative study in three districts of Shanghai, China BMC Public Health Childhood overweight and obesity Caregiver Beliefs Challenges Service needs |
| title | Caregivers’ perceptions, challenges and service needs related to tackling childhood overweight and obesity: a qualitative study in three districts of Shanghai, China |
| title_full | Caregivers’ perceptions, challenges and service needs related to tackling childhood overweight and obesity: a qualitative study in three districts of Shanghai, China |
| title_fullStr | Caregivers’ perceptions, challenges and service needs related to tackling childhood overweight and obesity: a qualitative study in three districts of Shanghai, China |
| title_full_unstemmed | Caregivers’ perceptions, challenges and service needs related to tackling childhood overweight and obesity: a qualitative study in three districts of Shanghai, China |
| title_short | Caregivers’ perceptions, challenges and service needs related to tackling childhood overweight and obesity: a qualitative study in three districts of Shanghai, China |
| title_sort | caregivers perceptions challenges and service needs related to tackling childhood overweight and obesity a qualitative study in three districts of shanghai china |
| topic | Childhood overweight and obesity Caregiver Beliefs Challenges Service needs |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-021-10744-6 |
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