Health Promotion International · 3 authors, 1 centre
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This qualitative interview study explored professionals' views on using open preschools (OP) as a community setting to promote healthy food habits. The central finding was that OPs can foster mutual learning and support improved food and health literacy for families, though language barriers and limited reach are challenges.
An inductive qualitative content analysis revealed that OPs offer a supportive environment for linking practitioners with families, facilitating socialization, eating together, and mutual learning, which can improve food literacy and health literacy. However, language barriers can hinder communication, and OPs do not reach all families. The professionals recommended continuous collaboration between OPs and health organizations and the regular use of intercultural mediators. A key limitation is that the findings reflect only the professionals' perspectives and cannot confirm actual improvements in literacy among families. The study highlights the role of community settings like OP in promoting healthy food habits while noting the need for broader stakeholder engagement.
