Intervention to Improve Child Care Nutrition and Activity Environments

Abstract

We determined the efficacy of a Southwest Ohio state‐sponsored intervention to promote nutrition (Nu) and physical activity (PA) in preschool child care. We conducted baseline (7/08–4/09) and follow‐up (9/09–12/09) phone interviews with child care center directors on Nu and PA environments of centers in an intervention (I, N=108 centers, Dayton area) and a demographically similar control (C, N=162 centers, Cincinnati area) county. A self‐assessment was sent to the 108 I centers; 28 [active intervention (AI)] returned the application and received a Targeted Action Plan to address self identified deficiencies in Nu and PA environments. The 6mo (mean±SD) in global Nu (eg, meal environment, milk, juice, snacks, etc) and PA (eg, TV, outdoor play & muscle room features, etc) scores trended higher in AI than inactive intervention (II, N=80 centers) for Nu (0.86±1.71 v 0.10±2.74 p=0.21) and PA (0.96±3.74 v 0.00±3.35 p=0.18), but not C (Nu: 0.45±2.60, p=0.4; PA: 0.80±3.78, p=0.8). The trend in differences between AI and II remained after adjustment for race (25% and 27% primarily black in AI and II respectively) or % of children receiving meal subsidy (>75% of children for 39% of AI and 32% of II). These pilot data suggest the intervention could be effective as an annual state‐wide public health initiative, but a larger study is needed.RWJF‐supported