Carson-Porter Angelique C, van den Berg Violet L, Meko Ntsoaki L
Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa.
Health SA. 2024 Jul 2;29:2575. doi: 10.4102/hsag.v29i0.2575. eCollection 2024.
In low- to middle-income countries, malnutrition is a major contributing factor in children failing to achieve their developmental potential. The prevention of malnutrition requires, among others, nutritious, diverse and safe foods in early childhood.
The study aimed to determine primary caregivers' choices and motivation for the foods they fed their children.
The study was conducted among early childhood development centres in the Xhariep District, Free State.
A qualitative study was undertaken. Twelve participants who met the inclusion criteria were conveniently sampled. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to find out the primary caregivers' choices and motivation for foods they fed their children until data saturation was reached.
The mean age of the participants was 31 years. Nine of the participants relied on social grants as a source of income. The participants reported feeding their children mainly maize porridge, milk, juice, and water. Vegetables and meat were fed to the children once a week. Fruits were fed to the children at the beginning of the month.
The level of education, employment status, and community support influenced the primary caregivers' feeding practices. The content of the diets of their children was insufficient in vegetables and fruit, not only placing the children at risk of undernutrition but also at risk of obesity and micronutrient deficiencies. Primary caregivers ensured their children were fed, although limited foods were offered.
This research creates awareness of the level of social progress and access to resources within rural communities in the Xhariep district, and gives the opportunity to extend this research to confirm these findings in other poverty-stricken areas.
在低收入和中等收入国家，营养不良是儿童无法充分发挥其发育潜力的主要促成因素。预防营养不良尤其需要在儿童早期提供营养丰富、种类多样且安全的食物。
该研究旨在确定主要照料者为其子女选择食物的情况及其动机。
该研究在自由邦省Xhariep区的幼儿发展中心开展。
进行了一项定性研究。通过便利抽样选取了12名符合纳入标准的参与者。进行了半结构化访谈，以了解主要照料者为其子女选择食物的情况及其动机，直至达到数据饱和。
参与者的平均年龄为31岁。其中9名参与者依靠社会补助金作为收入来源。参与者报告称主要给孩子喂食玉米粥、牛奶、果汁和水。蔬菜和肉类每周给孩子喂一次。水果在月初给孩子吃。
教育水平、就业状况和社区支持影响了主要照料者的喂养行为。其子女饮食中的蔬菜和水果含量不足，这不仅使儿童面临营养不良的风险，还面临肥胖和微量营养素缺乏的风险。尽管提供的食物有限，但主要照料者确保了孩子能有食物吃。
本研究提高了人们对Xhariep区农村社区社会进步水平和资源获取情况的认识，并提供了将该研究扩展到其他贫困地区以证实这些发现的机会。
