Factors Related to Recommended Nutrient Intakes of Young Children and Their Mothers

Abstract

Objectives The purpose of this study was to investigate factors related to nutrients intakes among young children aged 1-5 years and their mothers. Methods The study subjects were 621 young children and their mothers from the data of 2nd year (2014) and 3rd year (2015) of the 6th National Health and Nutrition Survey. To find a difference of Recommended Nutrient Intake in young children and their mothers, independent t-test, ANOVA, and Duncan test as a post-hoc analysis were used. For the factors influencing young children Recommended Nutrient Intakes, hierarchical multiple regression analysis was used. Results The mean score of Recommended Nutrient Intakes was 6.92±2.17 in young children and 4.74±2.06 in mothers. The Recommended Nutrient Intakes of young children was increased according to gender (boy) (p=0.001), increasing young children age (p≤0.001), young children breakfast frequency (p<0.001), mothers age (p<0.001), education level (p=0.020) and mothers lunch frequency (p=0.002) and family income (p=0.007). The Recommended Nutrient Intakes of mothers was increased according to their age (p=0.005), family income (p=0.020) and having breakfast (p=0.038). The factor that influenced young children Recommended Nutrient Intakes was their mothers Recommended Nutrient Intakes (β=0.21, p<0.001). Conclusions Given the results, it is necessary to establish a plan or nutrition education for young children’s menu differently depending on their age and gender. Since mothers’ Recommended Nutrient Intakes influence their young children’s Recommended Nutrient Intakes, it is necessary to provide mothers’ with nutrition education about the importance of mothers’ nutrition management and right nutrient intakes, and to make customized nutrition education guidelines in consideration of mothers’ characteristics. Key words: Mother, Recommended Nutrient Intakes, Young children