Knowledge, attitudes and practices on child feeding among child care providers of preschools in a nutritionally vulnerable district in Sri Lanka

oleh: Hemali G. Jayakody, Deepika E. Attygalle

Format: Article
Diterbitkan: College of Community Physicians of Sri Lanka 2016-07-01

Deskripsi

<p><strong>Background </strong>Role of child care providers in changing eating habits and food consumption among preschool children is often highlighted.</p><p><strong>Objectives </strong>This study described knowledge, attitudes and practices on child feeding and factors associated with knowledge and attitudes among child care providers of preschools in Nuwaraeliya district.</p><p><strong>Methods </strong>Cross sectional descriptive study was conducted in three divisional secretariat areas in Nuwaraeliya district in a sample of 427 preschool teachers who are working in child care centres for more than 1 year.</p><p><strong>Results </strong>Response rate for the self-administered questionnaire was 82.1% (n=344). Mean total knowledge score was 5.49 (SD 1.9) and 52.6% (n=181) scored more than 50% of the total score. Positive attitudes toward child feeding were reported as 63.7% (n=219). Statistically significant associations for both knowledge score and attitude level were observed with ethnicity (p=0.001), level of education (p=0.001), minimal duration of basic training (p=0.008 and p=0.001), type of in-service nutrition training programme attended (p=0.0001 and p=0.009) and the sector of employment of the child care provider (p=0.0001 and p=0.003). Participation of care providers during feeding of children was 83.3% (n= 283). Almost 59% (n=223) incorporated nutrition messages into routine teaching.</p><p><strong>Conclusion </strong>Standard basic training and well organized in-service training are some of the modifiable factors in improving the knowledge and attitudes on child feeding among preschool teachers.</p>