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Key Theoretical Frameworks for Intervention: Understanding and Promoting Behavior Change in Parent–Infant Feeding Choices in a Low-Income Population

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Abstract

The early introduction of solids to infants is a risk factor associated with later health problems including allergies, overweight, and diabetes. The Infant Feeding Series (TIFS), a newly designed curriculum that promotes the appropriate transition to solids through parenting education and behavior change among low-income mothers, used the Theory of Planned Behavior and the Transtheoretical Model of Change to develop TIFS curricular foci and activities. Using a pre-post design, pilot study results indicate that after exposure to the TIFS curriculum, mothers had significantly increased knowledge about appropriate infant feeding, could more accurately identify developmental indicators of infants’ readiness for solids, and reported greater feelings of self efficacy about initiating and maintaining healthy feeding practices. Editors’ Strategic Implications: Replication is necessary, but TIFS appears to be a promising prevention program based on short-term knowledge and long-term behavioral outcomes (i.e., healthy feeding practices).

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Acknowledgments

This study was funded by the Michigan Department of Community Health and Michigan State University.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Family and Child Ecology, Michigan State University, 3 Human Ecology Building, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA

    Holly E. Brophy-Herb

  2. Department of Communication, Michigan State University, 473 Communication Arts Building, East Lansing, MI, USA

    Kami Silk

  3. College of Nursing, Michigan State University, 500 W. Fee, East Lansing, MI, USA

    Mildred A. Horodynski

  4. Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA

    Laura Mercer

  5. Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Michigan State University, 204 G.M. Trout Building, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA

    Beth Olson

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  1. Holly E. Brophy-Herb
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  2. Kami Silk
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  3. Mildred A. Horodynski
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  4. Laura Mercer
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  5. Beth Olson
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Correspondence to Holly E. Brophy-Herb.

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Brophy-Herb, H.E., Silk, K., Horodynski, M.A. et al. Key Theoretical Frameworks for Intervention: Understanding and Promoting Behavior Change in Parent–Infant Feeding Choices in a Low-Income Population. J Primary Prevent 30, 191–208 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10935-009-0169-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10935-009-0169-9

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