Awareness of associations between nutrition in early-life and lifelong health: Aitutaki community survey

Samuel-Ioane, K.1, Ngamata, K.1, Bates, M.1, John, J.T.1, Trask, S.A.2, Tu’akoi, S.2,3, Vickers, M.H.2, Bay, J.L.2,4

1. Te Marae Ora – Cook Islands Ministry of Health; 2. Liggins Institute, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand; 3. School of Population Health, University of Auckland, New Zealand; 4. Koi Tū: The Centre for Informed Futures, University of Auckland, New Zealand.

The Cook Islands is impacted by high levels of obesity and associated noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). Developmental Origins of Health and Disease demonstrates that adverse nutritional and non-nutritional environmental exposures in early-life are associated with increased risk of later-life obesity and NCDs. This study examined awareness of links between early-life nutrition and lifelong health adults in Aitutaki (n=190). Open-response and Likert-scale questions were administered via brief face-to-face interviews in December 2021.

Females (74%) were more likely than males (51%) to know of NCDs (p<.01). Most participants (94%) recognised that food intake impacts health. However, only 47% strongly agreed with this statement. Participants were more likely to recognise the importance of maternal- (94%) vs paternal- (73%) health prior to conception (p<.001) for the health of the pregnancy. While 91% of participants agreed that nutrition in pregnancy impacts the fetal health, only 75% recognised that this impact is ongoing throughout the life of the offspring (p<.05). Positively, 66% of participants identified childhood and adolescence as key-life stages during which we should be focussing efforts on health promotion.

This Pacific Science for Health Literacy Project study provides the first baseline evidence of public understanding of the role of early-life nutrition on health across multiple generations in Aitutaki. A parallel study was conducted in Rarotonga. We released “Our Tamariki”, a bespoke health promotion tool designed to promote conversations about the importance of maternal and child health in 2023. We will repeat the survey in 2024, enabling evidence-based monitoring of the impacts of “Our Tamariki”.

Samuel-Ioane, K., Ngamata, K., Bates, M., John, J.T., Trask, S.A., Tu’akoi, S., Vickers, M.H., & Bay, J.L. (2023). Awareness of associations between nutrition in early-life and lifelong health: Aitutaki community survey. Cook Islands Pasifika Medical Association Conference​, Rarotonga, Cook Islands.