MULTIPLE PERSPECTIVES ON NUTRITION EDUCATION NEEDS OF LOW-INCOME HISPANICS

As part of a multi-level nutrition intervention for low-income Hispani cs (LIH) and the professionals and paraprofessionals who serve them, f ocus groups were used to 1) identify nutrition education needs and pre ferred means of receiving nutrition information, 2) identify the LIH's barriers/motivators to dietary behavior change, and 3) assess the fea sibility of using abuelas (Hispanic grandmothers) as educators. Nine f ocus groups were conducted using trained, local bilingual and bicultur al moderators. Low-income Hispanics' primary concerns were their child ren's nutritional habits and ways to prepare quick, nutritious meals a nd snacks. Their major barriers to dietary change were financial limit ations, lack of time, and family customs/habits. Professionals were co ncerned with the lack of interagency cooperation. Paraprofessionals we re most interested in training on how to teach. All audiences preferre d to receive nutrition education through classes with hands-on, intera ctive formats. Professionals and paraprofessionals noted advantages an d disadvantages to using abuelas as educators. Including three populat ions in the needs assessment allowed comparisons of perspectives acros s groups and allowed the design of nutrition education programs approp riately targeted to these populations.