Preventing Early Childhood Obesity, Part 1: Long-term Follow-up

Overview

This study extends follow up on of Native American (NA) mothers and their children (now age 3-5 years) enrolled in the 1:1 randomized controlled trial of the Family Spirit Nurture (FSN) intervention designed to prevent early childhood obesity (PECO 1). The investigators will examine whether positive FSN impacts on sugar sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption and healthy growth in the first year of life were sustained. The investigators will also examine the effects of the emergency COVID-19 water solutions on water insecurity, early childhood SSB consumption, and growth, and explore how COVID-19 affected child feeding patterns and weight status either through changes in maternal mental health or household food access.

Primary Aims Aim 1. Determine the longer-term effectiveness of the brief FSN intervention on reducing SSB consumption, increasing water intake, and promoting healthy growth status up to 5 years of age. Aim 2. Examine the impact of point-of-use (POU) water filters, employed as COVID-19 emergency water response efforts, on water insecurity, children's water intake and SSB consumption with or without previous FSN intervention. Positive findings would provide leverage to promote water solutions and water equity. Secondary Aims Secondary Aim 1. Determine whether providing a booster lesson at 4 years of age targeting age appropriate parental feeding practices, snack routines, avoidance of SSBs and increased water intake impacts SSB consumption and water intake between 4 and 4.5 years of age and child growth between 4 and 5 years of age. Secondary Aim 2. Describe how COVID-19 affected child feeding patterns and weight status either through maternal depression and anxiety or changes in food access. This follow-up study will builds upon a 1:1 randomized controlled trial of the Family Spirit Nurture (FSN) intervention designed to prevent early childhood obesity (PECO 1). Methods: A long-term follow-up evaluation will be conducted with n=110 of the randomized mother-child dyads (90% of the participants that completed the PECO 1 study) when the children are between 4 - 5 years of age. Eligible participants will complete a 4 year follow-up assessment after reconsent when the children are 4 years of age. All participants will maintain their randomization status and receive one age appropriate lesson specific to their study group. The intervention group (n=55) will receive one FSN lesson focused on age-appropriate parental feeding practices, including snack routines, avoidance of SSBs, and increased water intake. The control group (n=55) will receive one injury prevention lesson focused on vehicle safety. An endline follow-up assessment will be completed by all reconsented participants after three months of the 4 year follow-up assessment. Maternal and child medical chart review will be conducted by trained study staff after the child turns 5 years old. Medical chart reviews will collect data on maternal BMI (as a possible moderator of child growth) and child growth. During the COVID-19 pandemic as part of the emergency response on the Navajo Nation, a subset of study participants who previously reported water insecurity (n=50) received point-of-use (POU) water filters. Water filters were evenly distributed between the intervention (n=25) and control groups (n=25). Study implementation will include three phases: Phase 1 (Reconsent, Reenroll, and 4 year Follow-up Assessment): Study staff will re-approach randomized mother/child dyads when the child is 4 years of age to complete the informed consent process for the follow-up component. Participants will maintain their original randomization status and complete a 4 year follow-up assessment that consists of a mixed-methods approach. Phase 2 (Booster Lesson): Local FHCs, trained and employed by Johns Hopkins, will deliver either the intervention (1- FSN lesson) or the control condition (1- Vehicle-Safety Lesson) shortly after the 4 year follow-up assessment when the child is 4 years of age. With participant permission, lesson visits will be audio recorded for quality assurance, using digital audio recorders. A random 10% of audio recordings will be reviewed and rated to ensure fidelity to the curriculum and to facilitate staff training and supervision. Phase 3 (Endline Follow-up Assessment and Medical Chart Reviews): Three months after the 4 year follow-up assessment, participants will complete an endline follow-up assessment. The endline follow-up assessment will be the same assessment battery as the 4 year follow-up assessment. Maternal and child medical chart reviews will be conducted by trained study staff after the child is 5 years of age. Weight and height data will be collected from child's medical charts (birth through 5 years of age). Data may be collected any time during the 5th year of life as timing of the five year check up can vary. Maternal BMI will be collected from maternal medical chart reviews as a possible moderator of child growth.