Prevalence and factors associated with nutritional status of children attending child care centers in Prakhonchai sub-district municipality, Prakhonchai district, Buriram province.

Abstract

Objective : To evaluate the feeding practices of caregivers in the context of daily food consumption of preschool children and to study the relationship between the children’s eating behavior and their nutritional status.

Methods : A cross sectional study was conducted from July 2014 to August 2014 at two daycare centers in Prakhonchai district (Tessabarntumbonprakhonchai school, Anubarnkallayaprasit  school). Questionnaires were used to assess the feeding practices of caregivers, frequency of daily food choices and other health behavior. All children were also measured weight and height. Data were analyzed by using descriptive statistics in terms of frequency and percentage. Risk factors that could affect the nutritional status were analyzed by using multivariate regression analysis.

Result : There were 112 participants, with the ratio of boys to girls of 1.43:1. Most mothers were the primary caregiver. Most children had normal weight for their height. Only 6.2 percent were underweight, 11.6 percent were overweight and 10.7 percent were obese. In the group of overweight and obese children, 18.2 percent were male and 28.3 percent were female. It was found that the children’s nutritional status was influenced by the consumption of cereal and bread (p-value = 0.016). That is, among children who ate cereal and bread 0-2 times a week, 29.5% had normal weight, 2.7% were underweight, 5.4% were overweight, and 4.5% were obese. On the other hand, the consumption of cereal and bread everyday did not lead to normal nutritional status, overweight and obesity. However, it led to 0.9% of underweight children. Meanwhile, other basic factors did not affect the children’s nutritional status.

Conclusion : The study revealed that the children generally received good care from parents regarding nutrition and other healthcare. Very few of them were underweight, overweight and obese. Such findings were due to the fact that the children did not consume unhealthy beverages and food often, and the factor affecting the children’s nutritional status was the consumption of cereal and bread.  In other words, children’s consumption of cereal and bread of no more than two times a week may be associated with normal nutritional status at a statistical significance of .05.