Program outcomes of Comienzo Sano Familia Saludable: A maternal and child health nutrition program for Latina WIC participants

Background: The participatory, community-based student-experiential research opportunity - Comienzo Sano: Familia Saludable (Healthy Start: Healthy Family) was designed to improve maternal and child health nutrition for recipients of WIC program. Among children born in 2000, Hispanic boys and girls have a 45.4% and 52.5% lifetime risk of developing diabetes, respectively, rendering early prevention a vital component for Latino-specific program planning (CDC, 2011). Comienzo Sano: Familia Saludable was designed to integrate faculty, students, promotores, and Latino-serving organization partners in the design of a community based participatory research-based intervention for WIC participants.

Methods: Multiple linear regressions were conducted to investigate various program effects including increases in breastfeeding knowledge, perinatal diet, weight and pregnancy, infant nutrition, physical activity, and allergies. Level of education, number of children, and baseline knowledge levels were used as covariates in the analysis. Results: Younger age was significantly associated with higher knowledge regarding perinatal diet at follow up (â = -3.45, p < 0.05). Latin American birth was significantly associated with a higher level of overall general breastfeeding knowledge at baseline, (â = .10, p < 0.05) and a higher level of general nutrition knowledge at baseline (â = .81, p < 0.01). However, higher levels of general nutrition knowledge at follow up were marginally associated with being U.S. born (â = -0.66, p < 0.05).

Conclusions: Comienzo Sano: Familia Saludable objectives and outcomes will be highlighted. The program demonstrated significant increases in many areas of breastfeeding knowledge and intention, thus demonstrating potential to improve Latino chronic disease outcomes.