Table 3 Example study summaries
Study | Participants Location Design | Aims (where possible verbatim) Appraisal of Methods | Infant age Participation rate Attributable quotations | Setting Sampling Triangulation | Key findings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Baughcum et al. 1998 | 16 dieticians, 6 WIC* mothers, 8 teenage WIC mothers Kentucky, USA Qualitative (focus groups) | "to identify maternal beliefs and practices about child feeding that are associated with the development of childhood obesity" Design allowed for exploration of subjective experience. | 12–36 months age Not stated for mothers, 95% for dieticians Not attributable to individuals | WIC* clinic and WIC* nurses Risk of bias as sampling restricted to health clinic users Not stated | Mothers were not concerned about overweight in their children. This was perceived as a problem by dieticians and study authors. |
Baughcum et al. 2001 | 454 mothers, 258 attending WIC* and 196 attending private child health clinics. Cincinatti & Kentucky, USA Quantitative attitudinal (closed questionnaire) | "to determine if the factor scores [from questionnaire under development] were associated cross-sectionally with (1) the child being overweight at the time of the survey (2) maternal obesity, and (3) lower socio-economic status." Design did not allow for subjective views. | 11–24 months, but considering retrospectively to first year. 98% Not attributable to individuals | Health clinics (WIC* or private) Risk of bias as sampling restricted to health clinic users Not stated | Mothers were more concerned about under eating and underweight, although where children were overweight there was concern about overeating and overweight. |