California provider and advocate perspectives about opportunities to optimize nutrition services and resources in the first 1000 days

Abstract

Abstract Background Nutrition in the first 1000 days of life, from conception to age 2 years, plays a critical role in shaping offspring's physical and mental development, yet many families from underserved backgrounds suffer from nutrition inequity during this important stage of development. The objective of this study is to assess nutrition services and resources provided to families during the first 1000 days across diverse settings in California. Methods A semistructured survey was disseminated to healthcare and educational providers who offer services to pregnant and/or postpartum women and children up to age 2 years. Perspectives about five domains of early‐life nutrition services and resources were assessed: (1) accessibility, (2) mode of content delivery, (3) content of messages, (4) breastfeeding support, and (5) professional development on early‐life nutrition. Mixed methodology was used to conduct descriptive and thematic analyses for closed and open‐ended survey questions, respectively. Results Survey respondents (n = 148) worked in healthcare (37%), governmental (20%), community (20%), and childcare settings (23%). Over 60% primarily served low‐income families. Less than 9% reported that their organizations provide prenatal nutrition messaging about critical micronutrients required to support foetal neurodevelopment, highlighting an opportunity for professional development training in nutrition. Need for equitable access to nutrition education and resources by addressing Language, Income, Food resources, Time and Transportation (LIFTT) was a cross‐cutting theme that emerged. Conclusion Providers perceive a need to enhance LIFTT accessibility and improve delivery of early‐life nutrition‐related services for families in the first 1000 days by providing topic‐specific education and culturally responsive resources with consistent, evidence‐based messages.

Keywords

• first 1000 days
• food security
• infant nutrition
• nutrition equity
• prenatal nutrition
• public health nutrition