A qualitative Kaupapa Māori approach to understanding infant and young child feeding practices of Māori and Pacific grandparents in Auckland, New Zealand

Semi-structured interviews, Williams' model, inductive research approach

This study consisted of semi-structured interviews with Māori and Samoan grandparents on the topic of feeding their grandchildren. All of the participants interviewed had provided at least five meals per week to their grandchildren over the previous three months. A strong connection between "healthy" food as home-cooking and food grown in their gardens was identified, while "unhealthy" foods were characterized as being externally sourced (store-bought and manufactured). Structural and economic barriers to feeding practices were identified, such as unemployment, low retirement incomes and the rising cost of food.

While not purely a Kaupapa Māori research approach (not all researchers on the team were Māori), the study took a "Kaupapa Māori-consistent approach" - research was done in partnership, and the Tauiwi (non-Māori) researcher was guided on protocol and culture.

The vast food and gardening knowledge of the participants is recognized, the study was not deficit focused or "victim blaming," instead shifting the focus to systemic issues.

Interviews, audio recordings

Initial research that hopes to contribute to future policy and research

"Strong dichotomies emerged from participants’ narratives about 'healthy' and 'unhealthy' food choices. Healthy food was usually associated with notions of familiarity and 'home' such as home cooking, food produced from home
gardens and food that the participants themselves had consumed as children within their own homes and cultural contexts" (p. 1092).

"All of the participants had vegetable gardens at their homes and were knowledgeable about garden care and garden plants. Gardens were seen as a stable, healthy and cheap food supply and as sites of knowledge transfer" (p. 1093)

Public Health
Nutrition
Medical and Health Science