Abstract:
Abstract: This correlational study aimed to examine personal, family, and school factors
associated with nutritional status among pre-school children in urban and rural areas of
Nakhonnayok province. The sample included 118 pre-school children aged 4-6 years old
who attended pre-schools and one of their parents/guardians. Multistage random sampling
was used. Data were collected from January to February, 2007 by using self-administered
questionnaire completed by the parent/guardian and nutritional status assessed in the
children. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics and Chi-square test.
Results revealed that personal factors (gender, food behavior, and physical activity)
were not associated with nutritional status. Family factors associated with nutritional status
were parent’s food preparation behavior (χ2 = 7.788, p=.002), parent’s occupation (χ2 =
12.694, p=.026), parent’s education (χ2 = 12.897, p=.002), family food expenditure (χ2
cor =
4.944, p=.026), number of family members (χ2 = 9.555, p=.002), and food information
received from health team (χ2 = 8.261, p=.004). While parent’s food selection and food
cooking behavior, family income, food information received from teacher, food
information received from family members and food information received from mass
media were not associated with nutritional status. The school factor associated with
nutritional status was duration of physical education (χ2 = 6.816, p=.033).Whereas,
physical activity before classroom attention and school lunch program were not associated
with nutritional status among pre-school children.
Findings suggested that family is an important factor for nutritional status in preschool
children. Therefore, nurse practitioners could collaborate with health team and
teacher to provide information on nutrition especially food preparation technique for
parents and promote nutritional health through physical exercise among pre-school children.
The findings also provided baseline information to initiate a school policy in order to
prevent nutritional problems among pre-school children in Nakhonnayok province.