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The Gateshead Millennium Baby Study: A prospective study of feeding and growth

Lookup NU author(s): Dr Kathryn Parkinson

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Abstract

This is a study investigating feeding and growth in infancy. Its principal aim was to examine the joint influence of infant feeding behaviour and maternal psychological characteristics on weight gain. Infants of mothers resident in Gateshead, UK, born in pre-specified weeks in 1999-2000 were eligible, and 1029 were recruited. Routine clinic weights were collected, and heights and weights were measured by research nurses at 13 months for 82% of the cohort. Parental postal questionnaire completion rates varied from 81% at 6 weeks to 63% at 12 months and to 49% at 30 months. The strength of the study was that many data were collected at routine clinical contacts. The main difficulties were maintaining up-to-date contact details and keeping the families involved, for which direct contact was more successful than postal contact. Support from health professionals, telephone reminders, media involvement, birthday cards and newsletters helped the success of the study. More recently, 83% of the cohort has been traced to local schools. The overall result is a unique longitudinal dataset of early feeding patterns and maternal characteristics from birth which will form the basis of further investigation and analysis of the cohort.


Publication metadata

Author(s): Parkinson K, Wright C, Drewett R

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: International Journal of Social Research Methodology

Year: 2007

Volume: 10

Issue: 5

Pages: 335-347

ISSN (print): 1364-5579

ISSN (electronic): 1464-5300

Publisher: Routledge

URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13645570701677003

DOI: 10.1080/13645570701677003


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