Early childhood development and obesity risk-factors in a multi-ethnic, low-income community: Feasibility of the ‘Five Hundred under Five’ social determinants of health pilot study

Abstract

Objective: First, to describe a community–academic partnership that piloted a parent and home-based programme focused on the intersection of health and education from a social determinants foundation and determine the feasibility and acceptability of such work. Second, to examine trends and co-occurrence of social and environmental context, including obesity-related and school-readiness risk factors. Design: Cross-sectional component of pilot intervention. Setting: Family-based programme based in a low-income, multi-ethnic neighbourhood in Minneapolis, Minnesota, 2007–2009. Methods: English/Spanish/Somali-speaking families with preschool-aged children were recruited for the pilot intervention. Interviews were conducted with study staff to assess feasibility and acceptability. The intervention included an outreach worker and a parent education programme, home visits, school readiness activities and coordination and referral to social, health and school readiness resources through a trained family support advocate. Developmental assessments and a health and sociodemographic survey were conducted. Results: Complete data were available for 60/136 enrolled families. Recruiting and measuring families was feasible and acceptable under certain circumstances. The programme was well accepted by participants. Descriptive analyses suggest a relationship between school readiness, social conditions and obesity-related risk factors. Conclusions: This type of intervention has challenges but offers promising community-based strategies to address the interconnectedness of social conditions, weight-related health and education.