ASSESSMENT OF NUTRITION EDUCATION NEEDS RELATED TO INCREASING DIETARYCALCIUM INTAKE IN LOW-INCOME VIETNAMESE MOTHERS USING FOCUS GROUP DISCUSSIONS

American women are not meeting their recommended dietary intake for ca lcium, with the lowest levels of intake being reported by low-income a nd minority women. Five focus group discussions were conducted with 34 low-income Vietnamese mothers (ages 25 to 47) to assess their nutriti on education needs related to dietary calcium. Using the PRECEDE-PROCE ED theoretical model, factors related to increasing dietary calcium in take were identified. Knowledge and attitudes related to calcium sourc es, barriers preventing recommended calcium intake, and preferred meth ods of receiving nutrition information were determined. Most participa nts did not consume the recommended number of dairy foods per day Barr iers to increasing dietary calcium intake were identified including ta ste, cost, time, unfamiliarity with dairy products, and, to a lesser e xtent,lactose intolerance. Many mothers did not know the diseases rela ted to a low calcium intake. Misconceptions about the fat and calcium content of dairy products were common. Videotapes and print materials that include pictures of high-calcium foods were identified as desirab le delivery methods for nutrition education. Friends, physicians, and the media were common vehicles of nutrition information. Children seem ed to have a greater influence on their mothers' food purchasing and p reparation choices than did husbands.