A Study on Nutrition Knowledge, Dietary Attitudes and Nutrition Education Needs among Child-Care Teachers

Choi, Kyung Suk

Abstract

This study was conducted on 175 child-care teachers, who participated in in-service education, to research the methods to improve child-care teacher's nutrition management capability for infants and children. Investigated results of child-care teachers' nutrition knowledge, dietary attitude status, and needs on nutrition education in child-care centers are as follows: The score of child-care teachers' nutrition knowledge was 10.83 points out of 15, which is about 72%. Total score increased as teachers' age but not significantly different from their career duration, since teachers who have a child-care career less than 5 years acquired 10.91 points, which is higher than 10.64 points of teachers having more than 5 years of child-care career. Teachers' average recognition to the nutrition knowledge was 90.6%, increased significantly by the older they are, and decreased according to the accumulation of their career. The average accuracy of the nutrition knowledge was 79.7%, increased in proportion to the teachers' age. The marks of child-care teachers' dietary attitude were 41.3 points (possible score range 5-50) and 83%, older teachers tended to have more desirable dietary attitude. As indicated by the increment of child-care career, the score of emotional attitude tended to be increased but which of cognitive and behavioral attitude showed a declining tendency. Nutrition information which child-care teachers were mainly interested in were correct selection of food (58.1%), obesity and weight management (52.7%), and nutrient content of food (44.9%). Nutrition education contents which child-care teachers needed were 'nutritious food and menu for child' (72.2%), 'health management of child' (69.2%) and meal management of child (40.2%). Nutrition education methods, which child-care teachers considered as of desirable ones, were cooking class of small scale (31.8%), visiting class at child-care center (26.5%). In consequence, the nutrition knowledge and dietary attitude of child-care teachers were not good and showed different issues by age and career duration. Therefore, it is requisite to intensify nutrition management courses in child-care teachers' qualification and in-service education courses which has actual necessity and suitability based on teachers' age, career, and the type of child-care center, and to disseminate these through public health centers and child-care & education information centers to pursue the efficient balance of nutrition education programs.