Alicia K. Ribar, PhD, CNP

Rick Zoucha, PhD, APRN-BC, CTN- A Associate Professor Dissertation Chair Melanie Turk, PhD, RN Assistant Professor Internal Committee Member Jill Kilanowski, PhD, CPNP Assistant Professor, Nurse Scientist Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center External Committee Member

To understand the meaning and cultural influences of healthy eating and the role of nursing in the promotion of healthy eating practices from the Mexican American child’s point of view.

Healthy eating is important for acquiring and maintaining good health. To provide a personal perspective of what it means and the held beliefs of healthy eating. Provides a basis for care that is pertinent and valued within the population

17% of children aged of 6 and 19 years are currently overweight. In Mexican American children 21% are overweight. Vast interventional and behavioral studies demonstrate that obesity has a dramatic affect on health. Culturally specific interventions have only just begun to emerge.

What is the meaning of healthy eating in eleven to thirteen year old Mexican American children? What are the cultural influences of healthy eating for eleven to thirteen year old Mexican American children? What is the role of the nurse in promoting healthy eating for eleven to thirteen year old Mexican American children?

An ethnography method was utilized because ethnography research seeks to understand a group or cultural phenomena from a personal perspective. A focused ethnography studies a specific behavior within a particular cultural group.

The site for the study was a suburban setting located near a major central Ohio city. The population in the area is approximately 25,000 people. Of which 3.3% report Mexican heritage.

Informants were Mexican American children aged eleven to thirteen years. A total of twenty-one informants meeting the study criteria were interviewed. The snowball method was used for further identification of study informants.

Data gathering and data analysis occurred concurrently. Leininger’s four phases of qualitative data analysis and NVivo9 qualitative data management software was used for the study.

Leininger’s four phases of data analysis revealed twelve categories, five patterns and three cultural themes consistent with the domain of inquiry. This sections focuses on pattern and theme revealing the role of nursing.

Pattern that the role of the nurse is not familiar to Mexican American children. “Nurses are nice, if I knew them I could ask them about eating – I guess...do they do that kind of thing?”

Sources of food and health information education are valued when provided by familiar and trusted sources. “I learn about the most important things from my family or teachers I trust. I want to learn from them, I respect adults but really listen to the ones I trust the most.”

Education & Practice Establishing a rapport with clients is not a new concept to nursing. For the school nurse, this study highlights the need for increased interaction and exposure to the student populations. The nurse needs to become familiar to the population and provide a basis of recognition to establish the trusting relationship identified as important to the informants in this study.

Questions and Discussion