Christina Perry

A mixed methods study of food safety knowledge, practices and beliefs in Hispanic families with young children ☆

Children are at a higher risk for foodborne illness. The objective of this study was to explore food safety knowledge, beliefs and practices among Hispanic families with young children (≤10 years of age) living within a Midwestern state. A convergent mixed methods design collected qualitative and quantitative data in parallel. Food safety knowledge surveys were administered (n = 90) prior to exploration of beliefs and practices among six focus groups (n = 52) conducted by bilingual interpreters in community sites in five cities/towns. Descriptive statistics determined knowledge scores and thematic coding unveiled beliefs and practices. Data sets were merged to assess concordance. Participants were female (96%), 35.7 (±7.6) years of age, from Mexico (69%), with the majority having a low education level. Food safety knowledge was low (56% ± 11). Focus group themes were: Ethnic dishes popular, Relating food to illness, Fresh food in home country, Food safety practices, and Face to face learning. Mixed method analysis revealed high self confidence in preparing food safely with low safe food handling knowledge and the presence of some cultural beliefs. On-site Spanish classes and materials were preferred venues for food safety education. Bilingual food safety messaging targeting common ethnic foods and cultural beliefs and practices is indicated to lower the risk of foodborne illness in Hispanic families with young children.

Changing intentions to use smokeless tobacco: an application of the IMB model.

OBJECTIVE To determine if the Information-Motivation-Behavioral Skills model was effective for development of a smokeless tobacco educational unit (STEU) and analysis of STEU effects. METHODS Structural equation modeling was used to test component relations proposed by the IMB model and STEU effects on parallel growth of IMB components. RESULTS Results confirmed IMB model component relationships and indicated that STEU effects were primarily on information with indirect effects on expectancies and self-efficacy change through information. CONCLUSIONS Prevention programming needs to address all IMB model components. Organizing analysis around the IMB model provides better understanding of program outcomes.

Use of Technology to Reach Families with Young Children with Food Safety Information

Foodsafety practices associated with diar-rheal illness of Special SupplementalNutrition Program for Women, In-fants, and Children (WIC) partici-pants included not washing handsbefore preparing meals and baby bot-tles or after changing diapers and notwashing items that touched rawmeat before preparing the nextfood.