Mokone Suzan M, Manafe Mashudu, Ncube Lindiwe J
Department of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, School of Health Care Sciences, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, Pretoria, South Africa.
Division of Hospitality and Tourism, University of Mpumalanga, South Africa.
Health SA. 2023 Sep 29;28:2345. doi: 10.4102/hsag.v28i0.2345. eCollection 2023.
The perceptions of mothers and caregivers of children attending early childhood development (ECD) centres play a very critical role in promoting healthy eating habits in children and impact long-term health consequences. Food preferences that are developed during childhood continue into adolescence and adulthood and are difficult to change.
The aim of the study was to assess the perception of mothers and caregivers of children attending ECD centres regarding healthy eating practices.
The study was conducted in ECD centres in Gauteng, North West and Limpopo.
A quantitative descriptive design was used to collect data among 290 respondents using a structured, researcher-administered questionnaire.
The findings indicated that the majority (77%) of respondents did not believe that choosing a healthy diet is a matter of knowing foods that are good and bad for health. The majority (59%) of respondents believed that the food they eat and drinks are healthy and see no need to make changes.
The study findings showed that the majority of respondents lack awareness about choosing healthy diets. Furthermore, the current dietary patterns of respondents and their children will remain the same as long as the mothers and caregivers feel that the food they eat is healthy.
The findings of the study contribute to the appropriate measures of educating mothers and caregivers in offering healthy diets to children at home and in early childhood centres.
在幼儿发展（ECD）中心就读儿童的母亲和照料者的观念，在促进儿童健康饮食习惯及影响长期健康后果方面起着非常关键的作用。儿童时期形成的食物偏好会持续到青少年期及成年期，且难以改变。
本研究的目的是评估在ECD中心就读儿童的母亲和照料者对健康饮食行为的认知。
该研究在豪登省、西北省和林波波省的ECD中心开展。
采用定量描述性设计，通过研究者发放的结构化问卷，对290名受访者收集数据。
研究结果表明，大多数（77%）受访者不认为选择健康饮食是了解对健康有益和有害食物的问题。大多数（59%）受访者认为他们所吃的食物和饮品是健康的，无需做出改变。
研究结果显示，大多数受访者缺乏选择健康饮食的意识。此外，只要母亲和照料者觉得他们所吃的食物是健康的，受访者及其子女目前的饮食模式就会保持不变。
该研究结果有助于采取适当措施，教育母亲和照料者如何在家中和幼儿中心为儿童提供健康饮食。
