Want for Māori values and life experiences in dietary tips for pēpi – research

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New research has shown that the values ​​and life experiences of the Māori in their founding years must be included in the national dietary guidelines for pēpi.

Photo: Unsplash

Māori dieter and Māori health researcher Hannah Rapata says she chose to pursue this as her master’s research because she is aware of the inequalities Māori face at every stage of life and the importance that diet has has in early life for long term health results.

Rapata says that many Māori parents view infant feeding as a natural and instinctive process directed by their pēpi, rather than a process that is rigorous and in line with guidelines.

“Many of the parents we interviewed said that they felt more secure and supported by following their instincts and following the advice of their pēpi rather than listening to advice or information from health professionals because that advice and information was lived Disregarded experiences and Māori cultural experiences, “Rapata said.

There are guidelines from Plunket on what to feed pēpi, when to feed pēpi, and some advice on different types of food.

“It’s not necessarily strict guidelines, but it can be perceived as strict, such as not feeding Pēpi Kai before six months and the types of Kai that are recommended.”

She says research shows that it is important to have a responsive diet and parenting that follows the baby’s cues and when they’re ready to eat kai, rather than a specific age to start with steady kai.

“There’s a lot of evidence that responsive eating practices are really good for babies and their nutritional well-being,” Rapata said.

She is now advocating changes to national guidelines that reflect responsive nutrition and resources that include more culturally relevant information and support on infant feeding.

Rapata said two resources are being developed and are almost ready for release. They are funded by Ngā Pae o Te Māramatanga and Toi Tangata, a Māori health agency.

The first resource will be for Māori whānau to assist them in safely practicing responsive feeding.

The second resource is for healthcare professionals who work with Māori whānau to help them feed their baby whatever kai they want, the way they want.

“We want to make sure that our health professionals also provide culturally sound information and advice.”

Rapata found that advice to serving packaged foods was given to many whānau.

“This does not agree with our parents’ view of Kai and the connection it has with the Whenua and our Tīpuna, so it can be seen as a continuation of the colonization process.”

Another important finding was how whānau was able to establish that infant formula or infant formula can be part of a decolonization process as whānau.

“Some of our wnau were strong in their cultural connection, but some were less strong and used infant feeding as a process to reconnect with their wakapapa and tīpuna, connected with the whenua and the like, rather than with foods that maybe have less to do with it. “

She says one of the older mothers with grown children talked about how her grandmother was never breastfed and only bottle fed.

“This is because it was seen as a Pākeh thing and she wanted to appear as Pākeh and feel part of society, so bottle feeding was part of it.”

Many of the younger māmā said that breastfeeding was the ideal, but not always possible – it was aimed at.

“This is a real example of the decolonization process over maybe 20 to 30 years.

She says it is important that we prioritize the health of our pēpi as they are the future.

“They are the continuation of our whakapapa and really important, according to the rights of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People, our pēpi is prioritized and supported and there is information to prioritize their health as well . “