A strategy to empower parents in the first year after delivery towards improved diet quality

Research Line: Healthy Start / Seed Call: i4PH October 2023

The first year postpartum is crucial for maternal and infant health, yet many parents struggle to maintain a healthy diet during this period. Barriers include limited knowledge, psychological and physical challenges, and lack of social support. Health care professionals recognise the importance of nutritional counseling but face constraints related to knowledge and time. There is an urgent need for effective strategies to empower parents toward improved diet quality during the first year after delivery.

Objectives and Route to Impact

The primary objective is to design and pilot the Power 4 Parents strategy, focusing on empowering parents in the first year after delivery toward improved diet quality.

Specific aims include:

• Designing Power 4 Parents Strategy: Co-create a comprehensive empowerment strategy with stakeholders, focusing on disadvantaged parents.
• Network expansion: Expand the network with child health care centers and maternity care organisations to support the strategy.
• Research proposal development: Write a research proposal for a larger Dutch funding scheme to implement and evaluate the strategy using a randomized controlled trial and process evaluation.

Methods

The project will utilise the following methods:

• Literature study: Review existing literature to inform the design of the Power 4 Parents strategy.
• Co-creation sessions: Engage stakeholders in co-creation sessions to design and fine-tune the strategy, ensuring it meets the needs of parents and health care professionals.
• Protocol development: Develop an efficient protocol for health care professionals to implement the strategy effectively.
• Pilot study: Pilot the strategy with 10 pairs of parents to assess its feasibility and effectiveness.

Deliverables

The project will deliver:

• Designed Power 4 Parents Strategy: A comprehensive empowerment strategy for parents in the first year after delivery.
• Expanded network: Establishment of partnerships with child health care centers and maternity care organizations.
• Research proposal: Development of a research proposal for a larger Dutch grant scheme.

Contribution to Cross-EWUU Collaboration

The project involves researchers from all EWUU alliance partners, representing various fields, including health promotion, empowerment, nutrition, epidemiology, and child development. The collaboration ensures a comprehensive and interdisciplinary approach to addressing the problem.

Project Team

• Prof. Dr. Ir. Annemarie Wagemakers – WUR, Health & Society, Social Sciences Group
• Prof. Dr. Edith Feskens – WUR, Division of Human Nutrition and Health
• Dr. Ir. Elske Brouwer-Brolsma – WUR, Division of Human Nutrition and Health
• Ir. Renske van Lonkhuijzen – WUR, Health & Society, Social Sciences Group
• Prof. Dr. Anneloes van Baar – UU, Clinical Child and Family Studies
• Dr. Ir. Indre Kalinauskaite – UMCU, Julius Center for Health and Life Sciences
• Dr. Yuan Lu – TU/e, Department of Industrial Design
• Dr. Madelon Meijer – Hoogeveen – UMCU, Public Health Julius Center