Search Results (5)

Background/Objectives: Oral health (OH) in early childhood is a key determinant of long-term well-being, shaped by parenting-related dietary and hygiene habits. While these influences are well-documented, they remain underexplored among Brazilian immigrant families in the United States (U.S.). Therefore, this study was designed to examine how Brazilian immigrant parents’ perceptions and practices regarding diet and oral hygiene affect their preschool-aged children’s OH. Methods: This qualitative study consisted of in-depth interviews with Brazilian immigrant parents of preschool-aged children (ages 2–5) living in the U.S. Individual, in-depth interviews were conducted via Zoom, recorded, and transcribed in Brazilian Portuguese. Two native Brazilian researchers experienced in qualitative methods conducted a thematic analysis of the transcripts in Brazilian Portuguese using MAXQDA, a qualitative data analysis software. The analysis focused on identifying key perceptions, parenting practices, and barriers related to children’s diet and OH. Results: Parents strongly associated sugary foods with poor OH, identifying sugar as a major contributor to dental issues. Both mothers and fathers reported limiting sugar intake and encouraging good oral hygiene practices. While parents prioritized educating their children on healthy habits, barriers such as time constraints, reliance on external childcare, and economic limitations affected the consistent implementation of strategies. Conclusions: Brazilian immigrant parents understand the importance of diet and oral hygiene in in supporting their children’s early OH but face barriers in broader social contexts, such as daycare, preschools, and communities. Interventions should aim to support parents in their caregiving roles while simultaneously addressing systemic and environmental obstacles. Public health efforts should account for cultural, economic, and contextual factors to more effectively support Brazilian immigrant families in promoting their children’s OH. Full article

Background: Maternal and child health (MCH) is a critical public health issue affecting individuals, families, and communities worldwide. Immigrant populations, including Brazilian mothers and children in the United States (U.S.), face unique challenges, such as language barriers, limited healthcare access, and socioeconomic disparities that exacerbate health risks. Despite their growing numbers, Brazilian immigrants in the U.S. are an understudied group in MCH research. Objective: This systematic review and qualitative meta-synthesis aims to identify, appraise, and synthesize qualitative and mixed-methods research focused on the MCH experiences of Brazilian immigrants in the U.S. Methods: This review will follow the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocols (PRISMA-P) guidelines and is registered with PROSPERO, an international prospective registry of systematic reviews. Qualitative and mixed-methods research published between 2004 and 2024 that explicitly report qualitative methodology, analysis, and findings related to MCH experiences among Brazilians in the U.S. will be eligible to be included. Studies will be identified through a comprehensive search of seven databases (CINAHL, MEDLINE, PubMed, PsycINFO, Web of Science, Scopus, SocINDEX), and selected according to predefined inclusion/exclusion criteria. Only studies available in English, Portuguese, or Spanish and reporting original qualitative data will be included. Data extraction will be conducted using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Data Extraction Tool for Qualitative Research. Findings will be synthesized using the JBI meta-aggregation approach in MAXQDA software and evaluated for confidence using the JBI Confidence in Qualitative Research (ConQual) tool. Conclusions: By synthesizing qualitative findings, this review aims to inform the development of culturally responsive healthcare policies, community-based interventions, and future research tailored to the unique needs and experiences of Brazilian immigrant mothers and children in the U.S. Full article

Parents’ beliefs and practices significantly shape young children’s oral health (OH), particularly during preschool years when these habits are being established. Immigrant parents often face challenges in promoting OH due to cultural, financial, and logistical barriers. This qualitative study explored OH beliefs, practices, and barriers among Brazilian immigrant mothers in the United States (U.S.). Semi-structured interviews, guided by the Health Belief Model (HBM), were conducted with mothers of children aged 2–5 years. Thematic analysis, also guided by the HBM, revealed four key themes: (1) beliefs about children’s OH; (2) awareness of the parent’s role in fostering early OH behaviors; (3) identification of risk and protective factors affecting children’s OH; and (4) perceived barriers to maintaining children’s optimal OH. Mothers emphasized the importance of proper oral hygiene, regular dental check-ups, and balanced diets for promoting children’s OH. Despite recognizing their role in supporting oral hygiene routines and care, mothers noted barriers such as limited access to care, linguistic barriers, and difficulty adopting and maintaining healthy OH practices due to work and family demands. Notably, 96.6% (n = 28) of the mothers scored low on the SASH scale (SASH < 2.99), reflecting low acculturation levels, which may further contribute to these challenges. Study findings highlight the critical role of parental beliefs and practices in shaping early OH behaviors and the unique challenges faced by Brazilian immigrant mothers. Culturally relevant public health interventions, including tailored education and improved access to affordable dental care, are essential for enhancing OH outcomes in young children from these families. Full article

Brazilians are a rapidly growing ethnic immigrant population in the United States (U.S.), and there is a lack of childhood obesity prevention interventions addressing the needs of Brazilian preschool-age children. Using the family ecological model (FEM) as a guide, this developmental cross-sectional study assessed the preferences (content, intervention modality, and language) of 52 individual Brazilian immigrant parents (27 mothers, 25 fathers) for a family-based intervention to promote healthful energy balance-related behaviors (EBRB). Overall, 85% or more of parents reported being interested or very interested in content related to five of the seven assessed EBRBs (increasing fruits and vegetables, reducing unhealthy foods and sugar-sweetened beverages, increasing physical activity, and reducing screen time). Parent-preferred intervention modalities were group sessions delivered by community health workers (CHWs, 86.5%), email (84.6%), and messaging (78.8%), with most parents (71.2%) indicating a preference for content in Portuguese. Interventions integrating multiple components, such as group sessions offered by CHWs and text messaging using SMS and WhatsApp, should be considered. Future steps for intervention development should include investigating different communication channels and their integration into a culturally and linguistically tailored family-based intervention designed to promote healthful EBRBs of preschool-age children in Brazilian families living in the U.S. Full article

In the United States (US), racial/ethnic minority children, low-income children, and children of immigrant families are at increased risk of childhood obesity. Mounting evidence documents that sleep duration and sleep quality are important modifiable factors associated with increased risk of obesity among preschool-aged children. The number of Brazilian immigrants in the US is increasing, yet no existing research, to our knowledge, has examined factors affecting sleep and bedtime routines of children of Brazilian immigrant families. Therefore, the purpose of this qualitative study was to explore Brazilian immigrant mothers’ beliefs, attitudes, and practices related to sleep and bedtime routines among preschool-aged children. Seven focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted with 37 Brazilian immigrant mothers of preschool-age children living in the US. The audio-recordings of the FGDs were transcribed verbatim in Portuguese without identifiers and analyzed using thematic analyses. Mothers also completed a brief questionnaire assessing socio-demographic and acculturation. Analyses revealed that most mothers were aware of the importance of sleep and sleep duration for their children’s healthy growth and development. Mothers also spoke of children needing consistent bedtime routines. Nevertheless, many mothers reported inconsistent and suboptimal bedtime routines (e.g., lack of predictable and orderly bedtime activities such as bath, reading, etc. and use of electronics in bed). These suboptimal routines appeared to be influenced by day-to-day social contextual and environmental factors that are part of Brazilian immigrant families’ lives such as parents’ work schedule, living with extended family, living in multi-family housing, neighborhood noise, etc. Analyses identified several modifiable parenting practices related to young children’s sleep and bedtime routines (e.g., irregular bedtime, late bedtime, inconsistent bedtime routines, use of electronics in bed, etc.) that can be addressed in parenting- and family-based obesity prevention interventions. Interventions should consider the social context of the home/family (e.g., parents’ work schedules) and the environment (e.g., multi-family housing; neighborhood noise, etc.) faced by Brazilian immigrant families when developing health promotion messages and parenting interventions tailored to this ethnic group. Full article