Awareness of associations between nutrition in early-life and lifelong health: Rarotonga community survey
John, J.T.1, Ngamata, K.1, Samuel-Ioane, K.1, Bates, M.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 Rarotonga (n=200). Open-response and Likert-scale questions were administered via brief face-to-face interviews in February/March 2022.
Participants were more likely to recognise the importance of maternal- (87%) vs paternal- (60%) health prior to conception (p<.001) for the health of the pregnancy. Parallel questions about the impacts of nutrition and smoking during pregnancy revealed that while 90% of participants agreed that nutrition in pregnancy impacts fetal health, only 64% recognised that this impact is ongoing throughout offspring life (p<.001). In contrast, 93% of participants identified that tobacco smoke exposure during pregnancy impacts fetal health; 83% agreed that this impact continues through to adulthood. There is greater awareness of impacts of smoke exposure during pregnancy on lifelong health compared to nutritional exposures (p<.001).
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 Rarotonga. A parallel study was conducted in Aitutaki. 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”.
John, J.T., Ngamata, K., Samuel-Ioane, K., Bates, M., Trask, S.A., Tu’akoi, S., Vickers, M.H., & Bay, J.L. (2023). Awareness of associations between nutrition in early-life and lifelong health: Rarotonga community survey. Cook Islands Pasifika Medical Association Conference, Rarotonga, Cook Islands.