Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 11, 2026

A Common Marmoset Model of Mother-Infant Intervention for Breastfeeding Disorders in the Presence of Paternal Inhibition and Maternal Neglect
05:04

A Common Marmoset Model of Mother-Infant Intervention for Breastfeeding Disorders in the Presence of Paternal Inhibition and Maternal Neglect

Published on: September 22, 2023

Infant feeding practices of low-income, African-American, adolescent mothers: an ecological, multigenerational

M Bentley1, L Gavin, M M Black

  • 1Department of Nutrition, School of Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill 27599-7400, USA. pbentley@unc.edu

Social Science & Medicine (1982)
|September 4, 1999
PubMed

Insights

Grandmothers often dictate infant feeding practices, introducing solids early to African-American infants. This intergenerational influence shapes cultural norms around early infant nutrition and feeding decisions.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Sociology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Early introduction of non-milk foods is common in African-American infants, with semi-solids sometimes given as early as 1-2 weeks.
  • Understanding the determinants and intergenerational factors influencing these feeding practices is crucial for public health interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the determinants of early non-milk food introduction in African-American infants.
  • To explore the intergenerational factors influencing infant feeding decision-making among teen mothers and grandmothers.

Main Methods:

  • Qualitative ethnographic study using repeat in-depth interviews with 19 adolescent mothers and their infants' grandmothers.
  • Interviews conducted in participants' homes, focusing on infant feeding practices, parenting ethnotheories, and decision-making processes.
  • Data analysis involved taped interviews, transcription, and text retrieval software.

Main Results:

  • Early introduction of semi-solid foods within the first month of life, including cereal in bottles, is a cultural norm.
  • Grandmothers predominantly influenced infant feeding decisions due to their access and teen mothers' dependence.
  • Qualitative methods provided rich contextual data on multi-generational infant care practices.

Conclusions:

  • Grandmother's influence is a significant factor in early infant feeding decisions among African-American teen mothers.
  • Cultural norms and intergenerational dynamics play a key role in infant nutrition practices.
  • Ecological, multi-generational qualitative research offers valuable insights into complex infant feeding behaviors.

More Related Videos

Hand-Rearing Method for Infant Marmosets04:52

Hand-Rearing Method for Infant Marmosets

Published on: June 9, 2023

Modifying Levels of Maternal Dietary Folic Acid or Choline to Study the Impact of Deficiencies on Offspring Health Outcomes03:19

Modifying Levels of Maternal Dietary Folic Acid or Choline to Study the Impact of Deficiencies on Offspring Health Outcomes

Published on: June 28, 2024

Related Concept Videos

Parental Care00:55

Parental Care

Many animals exhibit parental care behavior, including feeding, grooming, and protecting young offspring. Parental care is universal in mammals and birds, which often have young that are born relatively helpless. Several species of insects and fish, as well as some amphibians, also care for their young.
Cross-Sectional Research01:50

Cross-Sectional Research

In cross-sectional research, a researcher compares multiple segments of the population at the same time. If they were interested in people's dietary habits, the researcher might directly compare different groups of people by age. Instead of following a group of people for 20 years to see how their dietary habits changed from decade to decade, the researcher would study a group of 20-year-old individuals and compare them to a group of 30-year-old individuals and a group of 40-year-old...
Attachment01:20

Attachment

Attachment is vital for infant development, as warm social interactions support growth and well-being. In a classic 1958 study by Harry Harlow, the significance of warmth and comfort in forming attachments was examined. Harlow separated newborn monkeys from their mothers and provided two artificial "mothers": one made of cold wire and the other covered in soft cloth. Despite the wire mother offering food, the infant monkeys preferred the comfort of the cloth mother, demonstrating that physical...
Sources of Self-Esteem I: Family Experience01:18

Sources of Self-Esteem I: Family Experience

Self-esteem, a crucial component of psychological development, is significantly shaped by familial experiences. The early parent-child relationship serves as a foundational influence on a child's self-concept, with long-lasting effects extending into adolescence and adulthood.Parental Behaviors and Early Self-Esteem FormationEmpirical studies have identified four principal parental behaviors that foster healthy self-esteem in children. These include expressions of acceptance, affection, and...
Development of Human Microbiota01:30

Development of Human Microbiota

The human microbiota begins developing at birth and undergoes continual change as we age. Infancy marks a critical period of microbial sensitivity, offering a “window of opportunity” during which beneficial microbes help mature the immune system. By age three, children typically develop a more stable and diverse microbial community. Newborns acquire microbes from their immediate environment; vaginal delivery favors maternal vaginal microbes, while cesarean births favor microbes from the skin...
Development of the Oral Microbiota01:28

Development of the Oral Microbiota

The establishment of the oral microbiome begins before birth, challenging the long-held belief that the fetal oral cavity is sterile. The presence of oral microbes such as Streptococcus and Fusobacterium in amniotic fluid suggests that microbial exposure may occur in utero, potentially through translocation from the maternal oral or gastrointestinal tract. This early colonization primes the neonatal immune system and sets the stage for subsequent microbial succession. Maternal health,...