Factors Associated with Fathers’ Attendance in a Latino Family Obesity Prevention Program

Authors

Sayaka Nagao-Sato, University of MinnesotaFollow
Silvia Alvarez de Davila, University of MinnesotaFollow
Aysegul Baltaci, University of MinnesotaFollow
Roxana Linares, Centro Tyrone GuzmanFollow
Alejandro Omar Peralta Reyes, University of MinnesotaFollow
Youjie Zhang, Medical College of Soochow University, ChinaFollow
Ghaffar Hurtado Choque, University of MarylandFollow
Marla Reicks, University of MinnesotaFollow

Abstract

Community-based programs may contribute to Latino pediatric obesity prevention; however, attendance remains low. This study aimed to identify factors associated with Latino father/male caregiver attendance in family-based adolescent obesity prevention programs conducted as part of a randomized controlled trial. The study used cross-sectional data from 137 fathers in the program, involving eight weekly sessions to improve their children’s energy balance-related behaviors. Evaluation data were collected at baseline and post-intervention. Fathers in a waitlisted control group attended sessions after post-intervention data collection. Attendance patterns were identified using cluster analysis: consistently high attendance (50% of fathers), declining attendance (19%), and non-attendance (31%) clusters. Multinomial logistic regression was used to examine associations between attendance patterns and variables. Compared to consistently high attendance, fathers in the non-attendance cluster were more likely to have been assigned to the control group (odds ratio [OR] = 7.86, p < 0.001), tended to have lower household income (OR = 2.50, p = 0.098), and attended the program at a site where the program occurred weekdays (OR = 0.35, p = 0.094). Maintaining contact during waiting periods and providing sessions online or during weekends could reduce non-attendance by enhancing convenience for low-income fathers working multiple jobs.

Recommended Citation

Nagao-Sato, S., de Davila, S. A., Baltaci, A., Linares, R., Peralta Reyes, A. O., Zhang, Y., Hurtado Choque, G., & Reicks, M. (2023). Factors Associated with Fathers’ Attendance in a Latino Family Obesity Prevention Program. Journal of Human Sciences and Extension, 11(1), 2. DOI: https://doi.org/10.55533/2325-5226.1451

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