Preventive care of overweight and obesity: perspectives of Turkish and Moroccan parents, and Youth Healthcare practitioners

Abstract

Background: Previous Dutch quantitative research into childhood overweight and obesity (O&O) found evidence indicating a significant difference in the prevalence’s of overweight and obesity in children with and without a migration background. Moreover, many Youth Health Care (YHC) practitioners, experienced persistent barriers in their care-delivery to parents of children with a Turkish or Moroccan migration background despite the growing effort to reduce it. Data on the first-hand YHC experiences of these parents are currently lacking. Aims: We aimed to investigate how preventive care regarding to childhood overweight and obesity could meet the needs of these parents. Furthermore, we examined which social and cultural aspects in a YHC practitioner-parent communication were important for these parents. Methods: We obtained data of perspectives from these parents with a child with overweight or obesity and YHC practitioners. The audio data were transcribed into data verbatim which were than coded using NVivo. Results: Three parents and four YHC practitioners were interviewed. A need-provision mismatch was observed and the following underlying needs of parents were identified regarding the encounter with a YHC practitioner: practical support in lifestyle challenges, awareness of the parents’ norms and values, support parents in managing everyday life with limited financial capacity, and attention to the impact of parent-child dynamic on the weight management. However, generic communication skills were believed to be the most effective strategic to bridge the mismatch. Discussion: The YHC should shift to a holistic care-model that addresses parents’ underlying needs. Thus, family-oriented and weight-inclusive frameworks may provide innovative insights.