Using cognitive mapping to understand Senegalese infant and young child feeding decisions

Bibliographic Data

ID15536239
AuthorsStephanie Zobrist (0000-0001-9436-9885, Program for Appropriate Technology in Health, corresponding author), Nikhila Kalra (0000-0003-1107-9255, Program for Appropriate Technology in Health), G H Pelto (0000-0001-9271-8041, Cornell University), Gretel Pelto (College of Human Ecology Cornell University Ithica New York USA), Brittney Wittenbrink (Program for Appropriate Technology in Health), Peiman Milani (0000-0003-4552-7183, Sight and Life Foundation Cary North Carolina USA), Abdoulaye Moussa Diallo (Helite SARL Dakar Senegal), Abdoulaye Diallo (0000-0002-4204-5923, Cheikh Anta Diop University), Tidiane Ndoye (0000-0001-5133-6725, Cheikh Anta Diop University), Issa Wone (Helite SARL Dakar Senegal), Megan Parker (0000-0001-5372-9581), Megan E Parker (0000-0003-0260-9445, Program for Appropriate Technology in Health)
Year2017
Volume14
Issue2
Pagese12542-e12542
Publication date2017-11-07
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueMaternal and Child Nutrition (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1740-8695 • E-ISSN: 1740-8709
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/mcn.12542
PMID29110396
OpenAlexW2768001209
LanguageEN
Citations received7
References cited32

Caregivers make decisions about how to feed their infants and young children based on complex interactions of knowledge, beliefs, and values, as well as assessments of situational determinants, including economic and social constraints and opportunities. Because of the relationship of these factors to the adoption of new feeding behaviours, the development of nutrition interventions for this age group must be grounded in knowledge about the target population. This paper presents the results of a study that used cognitive mapping techniques to gain insight into mothers' knowledge and perceptions of foods for infants and young children and examine their significance for feeding decisions in Saint-Louis, northern Senegal. Guided by mixed-methods protocols from the Focused Ethnographic Study for Infant and Young Child Feeding Manual, in-depth interviews that included qualitative discussions and cognitive mapping techniques were conducted with 46 mothers in rural and peri-urban communities. We explored mothers' perceptions about five dimensions that affect food decision-making-healthiness, convenience, child acceptance, appeal, and modernity-and the relationship of these dimensions to 38 local food items. Data analysis entailed a combination of qualitative thematic analysis and descriptive statistics. In both communities, "healthiness" was the most valued dimension for food decision-making by a large margin, followed by child acceptance, appeal, modernity, and convenience. We explore how different interpretations and definitions of these dimensions, and their relationship to specific local food items, may influence the design and planning of nutrition interventions. The results support the importance of mixed-methods formative research to illuminate the emic perspectives of caregivers

Developmental psychology · Emic and etic · Environmental health · Food choice · Formative assessment · Perception · Population · Psychological intervention · Qualitative research · Situational ethics · Social science · Sociology · Thematic analysis · Applied Psychology · Child Nutrition and Water Access · Medicine · Nursing · Psychology · Social Psychology

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