Yigit Metin, Santaflioglu Beytullah, Kilic Enes Kaan, Celebier Kaan, Kalayci Furkan
Department of Pediatrics, Ankara Yildirim Beyazit University, Ankara City Hospital, 06800, Ankara, Türkiye, Turkey.
Department of Pediatrics, Ankara City Hospital, Ankara, Türkiye, Turkey.
BMC Pediatr. 2025 May 28;25(1):432. doi: 10.1186/s12887-025-05791-6.
Fish is a crucial source of nutrients for early childhood development, yet various cultural and informational barriers hinder its adequate consumption. This study aimed to investigate the factors affecting fish consumption during complementary feeding and to examine the role of maternal dietary habits, parental attitudes and health guidance in shaping children's fish consumption practices.
A descriptive cross-sectional study using a 35-item questionnaire was conducted to assess demographic characteristics, fish consumption practices during complementary feeding, and the role of healthcare guidance.
Parental education level and healthcare guidance were both significantly associated with higher frequency and earlier introduction of fish in children's diets; however, maternal fish consumption during pregnancy showed the strongest impact on these outcomes. Children of mothers who consumed fish weekly during pregnancy were 14.9 times more likely to consume fish frequently, and families receiving healthcare guidance were 2.5 times more likely to introduce fish during complementary feeding. Key barriers included fears of fishbones, allergies, and heavy metal contamination. Despite these challenges, healthcare guidance on fish consumption was significantly associated with higher intake and earlier introduction.
Addressing misconceptions, enhancing healthcare guidance, and promoting educational interventions are critical to improving fish consumption during complementary feeding. These findings provide a basis for strategies to optimize early childhood nutrition and promote healthier dietary habits.
鱼类是儿童早期发育的重要营养来源，但各种文化和信息障碍阻碍了其充分消费。本研究旨在调查辅食喂养期间影响鱼类消费的因素，并探讨母亲饮食习惯、父母态度和健康指导在塑造儿童鱼类消费行为中的作用。
采用一份包含35个条目的问卷进行描述性横断面研究，以评估人口统计学特征、辅食喂养期间的鱼类消费行为以及医疗保健指导的作用。
父母教育水平和医疗保健指导均与儿童饮食中更高频率和更早引入鱼类显著相关；然而，母亲孕期的鱼类消费对这些结果的影响最为显著。孕期每周食用鱼类的母亲所生的孩子频繁食用鱼类的可能性高14.9倍，接受医疗保健指导的家庭在辅食喂养期间引入鱼类的可能性高2.5倍。主要障碍包括对鱼骨、过敏和重金属污染的担忧。尽管存在这些挑战，关于鱼类消费的医疗保健指导与更高的摄入量和更早的引入显著相关。
消除误解、加强医疗保健指导和促进教育干预对于改善辅食喂养期间的鱼类消费至关重要。这些发现为优化儿童早期营养和促进更健康饮食习惯的策略提供了依据。
