An interpretative research study focusing on the nature and impact of conversations between health visitors and parents relating to infant weight, in the delivery of the Healthy Child Programme (DH, DSCF 2009)

Coates, Maggie (2022) An interpretative research study focusing on the nature and impact of conversations between health visitors and parents relating to infant weight, in the delivery of the Healthy Child Programme (DH, DSCF 2009). Doctoral thesis, Northumbria University.

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Abstract

The purpose of the research is to describe and interpret the phenomenon of infant weight through the lens of parents and health visitors by revealing and understanding the interaction occurring between them. An infant is considered 0-2 years, and research context is the NHS and delivery of the Healthy Child Programme (HCP) (Department of Health, (DH), Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF), 2009). Research took place in a local Trust in the Northeast of England. Childhood obesity is a worldwide issue impacting on 41 million preschool children and is considered one of the most challenging areas to address (Redsell 2021). Categorising children as either overweight or obese is a complex activity because of gender, rate of growth and child development (NHS Digital 2021). This inspires the research and makes it an area worthy of focus. Less Interpretative research is available about infant weight and, sequentially with parents and health visitors (HV) specifically, to explore the interaction in time and place.

The research paradigm is social construction, a superstructure conceptually framing the research. The research is Interpretative phenomenology relating directly to the interpretation of experiences of self and everyday situational encounters, or the lived experience of participants. Theoretical perspectives are hermeneutic phenomenology and symbolic interactionism, enabling the interaction between health visitors and parents to be illuminated. Recruitment is purposive sampling (4 focus groups and 8 semi-structured interviews) with 14 parents and 20 HVs participating. Data corpus is analysed using thematic analysis.

Findings report that interactions between HVs and parents around infant weight are complex. Health visitors and parents make several assumptions leaving interaction open to misinterpretation. Furthermore, assumptions are never addressed in earnest. This impacts the integrity of the interaction. Managing infant weight is superseded by other public health needs of parents. There is no obvious or comprehensive approach to assessment, level of risk or approach that addresses excess weight of infants proactively or strategies for proactive whole family approaches. Both parents and health visitors demonstrate a defined emotional response to infant weight, and this impacts on how infant weight is addressed. The research identifies implications for health visiting, making several recommendations for future management of infant weight within the HCP (DH, DCSF 2009).

Exploring the interaction between health visitors and parents around infant weight illuminates the interaction in detail, described and interprets it for meaning. The research is useful for HV practice with the potential of transfer to other areas of public health.

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