Journal Articles
Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://mro.massey.ac.nz/handle/10179/7915
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Item Parent-reported offering of allergen foods to infants during complementary feeding: An observational study of New Zealand infants(Elsevier Ltd, 2024-12-01) Medemblik JM; Conlon CA; Haszard JJ; Heath A-LM; Taylor RW; Von Hurst P; Beck KL; Te Morenga L; Daniels L; Keller KThe prevalence of food allergies in New Zealand infants is uncertain but is believed to be similar to Australia, exceeding 10%. Current recommendations for reducing food allergy risk are to offer all major food allergens to infants from as early as six months of age (start of complementary feeding), and before 12 months of age. However, little is known regarding parental practices around introducing major food allergens. This study aimed to explore parental offering of major food allergens to infants during complementary feeding, and parent-reported food allergies. The cross-sectional study is a secondary analysis of the multi-centre (Auckland and Dunedin) First Foods New Zealand study of 625 parent-infant dyads. Participants were recruited in 2020-2022 when infants were 7-10 months of age. Questionnaires assessed sociodemographic characteristics, complementary feeding approach, infant pouch use and parental responses to five food allergy questions. All major food allergens had been offered to only 17% of infants by 9-10 months of age. Having offered egg, peanut, tree nuts, sesame, soy and seafood was more commonly associated with using a baby-led complementary feeding approach than a parent-led approach (p < 0.001). Frequent baby food pouch use was associated with a lower likelihood of offering egg and peanut (both p < 0.001). Overall, 12.6% of infants had a reported food allergy, with symptomatic response after exposure being the most common diagnostic tool. Most infants are not offered all major food allergens during early complementary feeding, with some parents actively avoiding major food allergens in the first year of life. These results provide up-to-date knowledge of parental practices, highlighting the need for more targeted advice and strategies to improve parental engagement with allergy prevention and diagnosis.Item Food, nutrition and cancer: perspectives and experiences of New Zealand cancer survivors(New Zealand Medical Association, 2021-11-12) Peniamina R; Davies C; Moata'ane L; Signal L; Tavite H; Te Morenga L; McLean RAIM: This research sought to understand and describe cancer survivors' perspectives and post-diagnosis experiences of food and nutrition, with a particular focus on barriers to healthy eating, health equity, and Māori and Pacific perspectives. METHOD: Data were collected using semi-structured interviews with cancer survivors from three different ethnic groups (Māori, Pacific Peoples, and New Zealand European). Thematic analysis was undertaken to identify both similar and contrasting experiences and perspectives in relation to topics of interest. Data analysis also sought to identify any trends indicating differences between ethnic groups. RESULTS: Limited awareness of the role nutrition has in cancer recovery or prevention, combined with little or no access to nutrition advice/support, meant that healthy dietary change was not a focus for some cancer survivors in this study, whereas others invested considerable time and money accessing nutrition information and support outside of cancer care services. Financial limitations (eg, cost of healthy food and low income) and lack of practical support were also important barriers to post-diagnosis healthy eating. CONCLUSION: There is a need for more widely available cancer-specific nutrition advice and support in New Zealand. Interventions to address financial barriers and increase access to cancer-related nutrition advice and support have the potential to improve cancer outcomes and reduce inequities in cancer outcomes.