RESUMO
Existing health education materials dealing with healthy eating, active living, and body image were examined by immigrant parents of elementary school children to determine their relevance, cultural competence, and accessibility. A total of 13 immigrant mothers from Sri Lanka and China participated in a series of three focus groups. Study findings indicate that the present health education materials intended to help prevent weight-related problems could be improved to better meet the needs of new immigrant families. Immigrant mothers who participated in the study expressed their preferences for health education materials and prevention interventions undertaken in a culturally relevant/competent, knowledge-sharing, participatory manner. Acting on these suggestions could help practitioners and public health agencies develop more effective strategies that meet the requirements of ethno-cultural immigrant communities.
