Young people of minority ethnic origin in England and early parenthood: views from young parents and service providers.

The paper explores the phenomenon of early parenthood in minority ethnic communities in England. The data were collected using focus group interviews, in-depth semi-structured interviews and a telephone survey. The sample consisted of 139 participants (41 service providers, 10 grandmothers, 88 young parents). The findings map out the complexity and diversity of experience of early parenthood amongst young people of minority ethnic origin, not least the multiple attachments many experience in relation to their social groups, religious affiliations and the traditional patterns of parenting within their immediate and extended family. Both the young parents and professionals in this study constructed early parenthood in more positive terms than is currently portrayed in the contemporary policy. The findings are analysed and discussed in relation to ethnic identity, social inclusion and exclusion. We explore participants' attempts to counter negative 'deficit' models of early parenthood with reference to perspectives on youth, parenthood and contemporary strategic policy. In conclusion, we suggest an unambiguous focus on the reduction of pregnancy is not a credible message when teenage pregnancy is a social norm for a particular ethnic or cultural group. For young parents of Muslim faith in particular, teenage parenting within marriage is not necessarily considered a 'problem' or seen as a distinctive event. Most participants did not view early parenthood as a barrier to re-establishing career and educational aspirations. A wide diversity of experience amongst young parents is evidenced in the communities studied; this needs to be reflected more comprehensively both in UK policy and in support services.

Heart health-associated health beliefs and behaviours of adolescents of African and African Caribbean descent in two cities in the United Kingdom.

The following paper presents the findings of an exploratory ethnography, the purpose of which was to identify and describe heart health associated beliefs and behaviours of year seven (Y7) and year 10 (Y10) secondary school young people of African and African Caribbean descent in two UK cities. Data were collected by the data collection technique of focus groups. However, eight focus groups were conducted involving 47 Y7 young people and 29 Y10 pupils, 76 pupils in total. The data were analysed utilizing ATLAS/ti qualitative data analysis software. This software is informed by grounded theory. Data from the study formed six themes. The findings informed the development of an interactive health promotion website which can be found at http://www.shef.ac.uk/web/uni/projects/mshhp. The paper argues that in order to provide meaningful programmes of health promotion to be developed by health care providers including school nurses and health visitors, it is essential that interventions are informed by an understanding of the health beliefs and behaviours of African and African Caribbean young people.

Breast-feeding experiences of women of African heritage in the United Kingdom.

This article explores the breast-feeding experiences of women of African descent in the United Kingdom. Although there is a limited evidence base that describes the breast-feeding experiences of these women, the small number of studies on this topic suggest that a tradition of breast-feeding exists within African communities in the United Kingdom. Cultural materialism is adopted as a theoretical framework to explore the sociocultural influences on breast-feeding in the United Kingdom for this group. The invisibility of this group is examined in relation to the health care research and policy agenda in the United Kingdom, and arguments are made for the urgent need to address this paucity of information to promote evidence-based nursing and midwifery practice.

The impact of heart health promotion on coronary heart disease lifestyle risk factors in schoolchildren: lessons learnt from a community-based project.

A community health promotion project called Action Heart was undertaken in two electoral wards in Rotherham to try to change lifestyles of people. Schools were included within the project. Coronary heart disease lifestyle risk factors were measured at baseline and after a three year period in the intervention area and a similar control area. Lifestyle factors in schoolchildren were measured separately from adults using a different instrument. The post intervention survey of adults and economic evaluation demonstrated that Action Heart had achieved cost-effective estimated health gains. In the schoolchildren however, a mixture of positive and negative risk factor changes in both areas was demonstrated. Significant changes in lifestyle risk factors in schoolchildren were not elicited using this approach. The possible reasons for the lack of impact on lifestyle risk factors in schoolchildren are examined and the implications for further work explored.