Relationship Between Food Insecurity and Healthy Eating Behavior for Gestational Diabetes Risk Reduction Among American Indian and Alaska Native Adolescent and Young Adult Females: A Qualitative Exploration.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To understand the perspectives of key informant experts regarding the relationship between food insecurity and gestational diabetes mellitus risk reduction behaviors among young American Indian and Alaska Native females. METHODS: Participants were adult key informants with expertise in food/nutrition and health within Tribal communities (N = 58) across the US. Data were collected through 11 interviews using a semistructured moderator guide and analyzed using thematic content analysis methods. RESULTS: Three themes included (1) diet and nutrition habits are formed through intergenerational food preferences and are driven by lasting implications of colonization; (2) young people are influenced by what their peers eat and the food environment, including outside of the home; and (3) the methods used to understand household food insecurity and nutrition habits in the parent study were likely limited. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS Findings provide guidance as to where nutrition education and interventions may best support young Native females.