Type, Timing, and Diversity of Complementary Foods Among Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, and Filipino Infants.

ABSTRACT

Prevention is the recommended strategy for addressing childhood obesity and may be particularly important for minority groups such as Native Hawaiians, Pacific Islanders, and Filipinos (NHPIF) who display poorer health outcomes than other race/ethnic groups. Complementary feeding is a critical milestone in the first 1,000 days of life and plays a critical role in growth and eating habit formation. This cross-sectional study recruited NHPIF infants between 3 - 12 months of age residing on O'ahu, Hawai'i to examine timing and types of complementary foods introduced first as well as the dietary diversity of those infants 6 - 12 months of age. Basic demographic information and early feeding practices were assessed via online questionnaire. Diet was evaluated using the image-based mobile food record completed over 4-days. Images were evaluated to derive the World Health Organization's minimum dietary diversity (MDD) score. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and linear regressions. Seventy participants completed the study with a majority being between the ages of 6 - 12 months (n=56). About half of the participants were provided a complementary food prior to 6 months of age with the most common first complementary food being poi (steamed, mashed taro). Grains were the most commonly reported food group while the high protein food groups was the least commonly reported. Approximately 25% of infants 6 - 12 months of age met MDD all four days. Meeting MDD was significantly associated with age. Findings illuminate opportunities for improvement (eg, delayed introduction) and for promotion (eg, cultural foods) in NHPIF complementary feeding.