A comparison of three methods of assessing the nutrition education needs of at-home mothers of preschoolers

Needs assessment is generally recognized as an important component of program planning and decision-making processes. However, a better understanding is required of the relative worth of various methods used to assess educational needs and, particularly, nutrition education needs. This study was designed to investigate the relationship among three methods of needs assessment. More specifically, it compared a perceived needs assessment method with two alternate methods based on assessments of knowledge and food consumption. The four food groups of Canada's Food Guide were used as the basis of comparison among the methods. Home interviews were conducted by the researcher with a selected sample of mothers of three year old children in the Regina Rural Region of Saskatchewan Health. Instruments used during the interviews were developed or adapted to collect data concerning mothers' perceived needs, their nutrition knowledge, the food intake of their preschoolers, and relevant demographic variables. Analysis of the data involved correlating mothers' perception scores with scores based on their nutrition knowledge and on the food consumption of their preschoolers for each of the four food groups. Tabulations of frequencies to provide descriptive information about the characteristics of the sample were also included in the analysis. The findings indicated non-significant correlations for the data in all but one instance. This research, therefore, was not able to support the existence of relationships among the three methods of needs assessment tested in a well educated population of mothers. Although more thorough testing of the instruments used to collect the data is required, the research lends support to the contention that some major differences exist among the three methods of needs assessment investigated and suggests possible implications for program planning

The Psychosocial and Emotional Experience of Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding is acknowledged as optimal infant nutrition, yet despite high initiation rates, early cessation remains common. To understand why, we asked mothers in Western Canada how they felt about their breastfeeding experience. A total of 191 women (response rate 35%) responded to a survey distributed by public health nurses. While many women felt positive about their overall breastfeeding experience, others shared mixed or negative emotions. Several themes were evident: (a) Most women reported a variety of positive aspects beyond the health benefits, (b) lactation difficulties were commonly reported, and (c) diversity among the reflections highlights the uniqueness of each breastfeeding journey. The findings reaffirm the need for breastfeeding programs to holistically promote the range of positive aspects while providing realistic information on common challenges and strategies to overcome these. Mothers require individualized support that assesses psychosocial and emotional needs and offers encouragement, reassurance, and acknowledgment of the range of experiences