Open AccessMaternal influences on fruit and vegetable consumption of schoolchildren: case study in Hong Kong
Author(s) -
Yung Tony K.C.,
Lee Albert,
Ho Mandy M.,
Keung Vera M.W.,
Lee Jackie C.K.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
maternal and child nutrition
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.181
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1740-8709
pISSN - 1740-8695
DOI - 10.1111/j.1740-8709.2009.00198.x
Subject(s) - consumption (sociology) , medicine , logistic regression , promotion (chess) , healthy eating , nutrition education , environmental health , health promotion , public health , gerontology , physical activity , nursing , political science , social science , sociology , politics , law , physical medicine and rehabilitation
This study investigated whether the consumption of fruit and vegetable by Chinese primary students in Hong Kong is associated with their mother's (1) nutrition knowledge on fruit and vegetables; (2) attitude towards healthy eating; and (3) fruit and vegetable consumption. Fourth‐ and fifth‐grade students from 10 primary schools located in different districts, along with their mothers, were invited to each fill‐in a questionnaire related to their diet intake. Accomplished questionnaires were matched and analysed. There were 1779 mother–child pairs who were successfully matched. Chi‐square analysis revealed that students' fruit consumption is associated with their mother's (1) knowledge on fruit and vegetables ( P = 0.006); (2) attitude towards healthy eating ( P = 0.010); and (3) fruit consumption ( P < 0.001). Students' vegetable consumption exhibited the same association with their mother's (1) knowledge ( P < 0.001), (2) attitude towards healthy eating ( P = 0.005), and (3) vegetable consumption ( P < 0.001). Logistic regression showed that knowledge, attitude and dietary practice of mothers were independent factors associated with the consumption of fruit and vegetables by students and are not influenced by the level of education and household income. The results highlight the important role of parents in promoting fruit and vegetable consumption to primary students. It reaffirmed the importance of parent nutrition education in the formulation of a comprehensive health promotion strategy to school‐aged children.