Assessing the acceptability of a culturally adapted group-based pediatric intervention, Kokajjiriri, for Marshallese mothers and infants to improve nutrition and prevent childhood obesity.
Britni L Ayers, Eliza Short, Chloe Cline and 3 others
PMID 39056267WHAT IT FOUND
All 17 mothers who tried the pilot said the nutrition information was useful and accurate, and all said the group sessions were suitable for Marshallese mothers.
They asked for clearer guidance on colostrum, starting solids at six months, and rice portions.
Key findings
01All 17 mothers who completed the pilot said the nutrition information was useful, accurate, and new to them, and all said the group sessions were suitable for Marshallese mothers.
02Four themes emerged from the focus groups: lactation support, introducing healthy solids, rice portion control, and finding resources.
03Mothers specifically described learning about colostrum, starting solids at six months, and using food models to understand rice portions.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The findings are from a small sample of Marshallese women, so they may not represent all Marshallese families. The study was done in one US state, so results may not generalise to other locations. Only 17 mothers completed the pilot after 20 mothers took part in the earlier dietary recall. The sessions tested were only three nutrition sessions, not the full nine-session Kokajjiriri programme. The pilot included several adaptations at once, such as a Marshallese facilitator, food models, and translated materials, so it cannot show which part made the programme acceptable. The study assessed acceptability and feasibility; it did not test whether the programme improved nutrition, growth, or obesity outcomes.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read this as evidence that Kokajjiriri prevented childhood obesity or improved infant nutrition. The study assessed acceptability in 17 mothers and did not report child weight, growth, or feeding outcomes.