Publications by authors named "Elder G Varela"
Objective: Evaluate the usability and acceptability of a digital infant feeding module for use in a home visiting program.
Methods: Home visitors (n = 11) and mothers (n = 10) completed a qualitative interview while viewing a digital nutrition education module on infant feeding. Quantitative data were collected using the mHealth App Usability Questionnaire.
Article Synopsis
- PSE change strategies support healthy eating by improving community access to nutritious foods, complementing individual-level nutrition education.
- The review found 48 studies on these strategies for children under 5, with most focusing on access in educational settings.
- However, only a fraction of studies assessed children's attitudes and behaviors, and only 60% of evaluation tools were validated for reliability.
Article Synopsis
- Home visitation programs can effectively address early childhood obesity through technology, as shown by the positive attitudes of staff towards its use.
- Staff from the Florida program indicated they find videoconferencing a flexible and efficient method for home visits, suggesting improvements like shorter content and multilingual resources.
- However, concerns about internet access and potential social disconnect were highlighted, pointing to areas for careful consideration in program implementation.
Article Synopsis
- The study explored barriers to food security for low-income families with young children in Florida, focusing on various community stakeholders' perspectives.
- Stakeholders, including healthcare professionals and educators, highlighted issues like stigma, time constraints, food access limitations, and transportation problems as major obstacles.
- The impacts of COVID-19 introduced additional challenges such as fear of virus exposure and decreased engagement in virtual programs, indicating a need for coordinated policy and system changes to improve food security.
Responsive feeding is associated with a reduced risk of childhood obesity. The objective of this qualitative study was to determine parental preferences for mobile health (mHealth) app content and features designed to improve responsive feeding practices. Parents of 0-2-year-old children were interviewed individually.
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- Food insecurity significantly affects Hispanic/Latinx households in the U.S., especially those with children under three, highlighting a vulnerable demographic.
- A narrative review using the Socio-Ecological Model identified various factors influencing food insecurity, including individual, interpersonal, organizational, community, and societal/policy dimensions.
- The review revealed that while many studies demonstrate a strong evidence quality, there is a pressing need for more research addressing public policy and societal factors affecting food security in these households.
Children living in food-insecure households have poorer overall health than children in food-secure households. While U.S.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFFamilies with low incomes face barriers to preparing healthy meals, including decreased food access and limited time, and may turn to fast, low-quality, and inexpensive foods. Affordable and accessible meal kits may reduce these barriers. The objective of this study was to explore the cooking, eating, and shopping behaviors of African American (AA) and Hispanic participants living in the United States with low incomes and determine the knowledge of and preferences for a culturally appropriate meal kit intervention.
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