Background
Dietary behaviors, which impact chronic disease risk, are established early, making infant- and toddler-feeding education (ITE) critical to health. Using mobile applications (apps) for ITE shows promise: most Hispanics own smartphones (79%) and health-related apps are accepted among mothers. However, the viability of ITE apps for low-income Hispanic mothers remains unclear. Health professionals, who have insight into Hispanic mothers’ needs, can help clarify ITE apps’ potential.
Objective
To characterizing health professionals’ views on low-income Hispanic mothers’ capability, motivation, and barriers to using ITE apps.
Study Design, Settings, Participants
New York City-based health professionals with >3 years’ experience and >1 encounter/week with low-income Hispanic mothers of infants and toddlers (6-24 months) completed a demographic survey and an in-depth, semi-structured virtual interview. Capability, Opportunity, Motivation, and Behavior (COM-B), a well-accepted Dissemination and Implementation framework, informed the interview guide.
Measurable Outcome/Analysis
A directed content analysis approach was used to identify themes using COM-B theoretical codes and subcodes. Transcripts were coded independently by 2 researchers using NVivo 12. Survey data were analyzed using descriptive statistics.
Results
Participants included pediatricians, dietitians, WIC practitioners, and Cooperative Extension educators (n = 13); 100% owned a smartphone and 85% used popular apps “several times a week” or more often. The following themes were identified: 1) Mothers are tech-savvy (ie, high capability and use of smartphones and apps); 2) Potential limits to using apps exist (eg, home Internet access, literacy barriers, and multiple Spanish dialects); and 3) Easily accessible information motivates app use but capturing and maintaining interest is challenging (eg, abundance of app options overwhelming; apps are potentially burdensome).
Conclusion
ITE apps are a viable option as skills and use appear high among low-income Hispanic mothers. Important considerations for app development include availability of features with limited Internet access; strategies for low literacy and multiple dialects (eg, more visuals, less text); targeted app promotion; and careful consideration of user engagement.
Funding Engaged Cornell, Cornell University.
Appendix. Supplementary data
Article info
Identification
Copyright
© 2021 Published by Elsevier Inc.
