Mother-child dietary behaviours and their observed associations with socio-demographic factors: findings from the Healthy Beginnings Trial

Few studies have investigated the effect of maternal factors on child eating practices. Our study aimed to explore mother-child dietary behaviours and their associations with socio-demographic factors. A cross-sectional analysis was conducted using data from control participants (n 243) in the Healthy Beginnings Trial, which involved first-time mothers and their 2-year-old children. Mother-child dietary behaviours were assessed using short dietary questions (short FFQ) and their associations with socio-demographic factors were examined using binary logistic regression. The dietary intake of 2-year-old children was characterised by low vegetable consumption and high discretionary food intake. In multivariate analysis, lower-income mothers (<Australian $40 000 per annum) reported their child was more likely to consume less fruit (<1 serve/d) (adjusted OR (AOR): 5.83; 95 % CI 1.49, 22.80) and ate hot chips more frequently (>= 2 times/week) (AOR: 4.80; 95 % CI 1.28, 18.04), compared with higher-income mothers (>= Australian $40 000 per annum). Younger mothers (<25 years) reported their child consumed more sugary drinks and soft drink (>0.5 cups/d) AOR 2.93 (95 % CI 1.03, 8.35), compared with older mothers (>= 25 years). Non-Australian-born mothers reported their child consumed more fruit juice (>0.5 cups/d) AOR 2.04 (95 % CI 1.02, 4.05), sweet snacks AOR 1.96 (95 % CI 1.02, 3.76) and fast food (>= 2 times/week) AOR 3.67 (95 % CI 1.29, 10.43) compared with Australian-born mothers. Significant positive correlations between maternal and child dietary intake were observed for all dietary variables except milk, with the largest association for fast foods (Pearson's r 0.52, P<0.001). This study shows that maternal factors are associated with child dietary behaviours. Targeting young mothers (<= 25 years) of potential disadvantage, before commencement of early feeding practices, has the potential to improve children's diets.