Food practices of indigenous women according to the nutritional status and sex of their children

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to describe the eating practices (EP) of indigenous women in Hidalgo (Mexico), based on their children's sex and nutritional status (NS). A total of 19 mother-child dyads participated (Mage mother = 33.5 years, SD = 7.1, Mage children = 6.0 years, SD = 0.4). The mothers were interviewed and, to estimate the NS of their children, they were weighed and measured. The information was analyzed by categories based on the factors of the Questionnaire of Attitudes, Beliefs and Practices of the Parents towards the Feeding of their Children. Although mothers with healthy children (height normal and normal weight) and those of children with poor nutrition showed common EP, they also presented some differences. These were mainly related to the perception of the weight of their children, which was not consistent with the real NS, characterized by underestimation. In both sexes (son/daughter) there was a high presence of almost all categories of analysis, but mostly among mothers with girls. This study represents a first approach to the knowledge of the maternal EP of indigenous women according to the NS and sex of their children, whose results support the need to continue deepening the study of this type of population.