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Co‐Designing a Culturally Tailored Nutrition Resource With African Migrant Women and Healthcare Professionals in Australia

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Health Expectations

Published online on

Abstract

["Health Expectations, Volume 29, Issue 2, April 2026. ", "\nABSTRACT\n\nBackground\nDeciding what foods to consume during pregnancy can be overwhelming. Accurate and culturally appropriate nutrition resources are particularly important for migrant women navigating different cultural influences. Research with African migrant women has highlighted the need for tailored pregnancy nutrition resources, yet this need remains unmet. Providing African migrant women with appropriate resources can support informed food choices and contribute to improved maternal and foetal health outcomes. This study explored the views and opinions of African migrant women and healthcare professionals (HCPs) in Australia on the development of a culturally appropriate pregnancy nutrition resource.\n\n\nMethods\nThe authors drew on previously prioritised needs for culturally tailored pregnancy nutrition resources as a starting point for co‐design workshops. Four workshops were conducted via Zoom with seven African migrant women and five HCPs. Participants included women and HCPs from an earlier study as well as new participants recruited through convenience sampling. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis, combining deductive and inductive approaches.\n\n\nResults\nThree themes captured the preferred formats and features of a tailored pregnancy nutrition resource. Among the suggested formats, the top four preferred were a mobile application, website, pamphlet, and food guide. Key features included incorporating African foods, identifying suitable alternatives available in Australia, providing information on common cultural food restrictions, and listing where African and substitute foods could be purchased. Across all formats, participants emphasised the importance of concise, visually engaging resources.\n\n\nConclusions\nCo‐designed, culturally tailored nutrition resources can support women's nutritional needs, foster culturally sensitive care, and improve maternal and foetal health outcomes.\n\n\nPatient or Public Contribution\nAfrican migrant women and HCPs contributed to co‐design workshops, guiding the development of culturally tailored pregnancy nutrition resources.\n"]