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Using a Cultural Framework to Assess the Nutrition Influences in Relation to Birth Outcomes Among African American Women of Childbearing Age: Application of the PEN-3 Theoretical Model

Nutrition Department, School of Public Health and Health Sciences, at University of Massachusetts in Amherst, Massachusetts, srimathik{at}gmail.com

DeWitt Webster, PhD, MPH, CHES

Association for the Study and Development of Community in Gaithersburg, Maryland

Arlene Sparks, BS

Genesee County Community Action Resource Department in Flint, Michigan

Charlene M. Acker

Project EXPORT, University of Michigan, in Flint, Michigan

Ella Greene-Moton

Health Awareness Center, with Flint Odyssey House Inc. in Flint, Michigan

Elizabeth Tropiano, MS

Kinesiology Division, University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan

Tonya Turner, BS

Genesee County Health Department in Flint, Michigan

The purpose is to present the process and results of focus groups conducted to access information for the design of a healthy eating curriculum to reduce maternal nutritional risks and enhance protective factors among African American women in relation to birth outcomes. Sixteen younger (19 to 25 years) and 20 older African American women (45 to 60 years), respectively, participated. The PEN-3 model, (Airhihenbuwa, 1995, 1999) guided the focus groups. Most women stated that culture and family relationships impacted their food choices. Younger women expressed creativity with recipes and presented a desire to be more involved with preparing foods. Older women expressed eagerness to teach family-centered culinary skill-building classes. Both groups of women acknowledged time and budget barriers, identified the prevalence of lactose intolerance, and recognized that large grocery stores that offered food variety were not located in their community. Health professionals are encouraged to consider these findings while designing interventions targeting young African American women's nutrition in relation to birth outcomes.

Key Words: African American • healthy eating • birth outcomes • PEN-3 • nutrition education

This version was published on July 1, 2009

Health Promotion Practice, Vol. 10, No. 3, 349-358 (2009)
DOI: 10.1177/1524839907301406


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