Maternal Nutritional Understanding, Attitudes, and Practices: Implications for Children's Eating Habits
Vidhya C. S.
Department of Primary Processing Storage and Handling, NIFTEM-Thanjavur, Thanjavur-613005, Tamil Nadu, India.
P. Narmatha Sree
Sri Sai Bharath College of Education. (Affiliated to Tamil Nadu Teachers Education University, Chennai.), Navamathupatty, Dindigul, Tamil Nadu, India.
K. Sudha Rani
Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Reddipalli Anantapuram, Andhra Pradesh 515 701 Acharya NG Ranga Agricultural Universit, India.
Priya Srivastava *
Department of Zoology, St. Xavier’s College, Ranchi Jharkhand, India.
A. M. Rashida Banu
Department of Botany, Hajee Karutha Rowther Howdia College, Uthamapalayam, Theni District –625533, Tamil Nadu, India.
Pratima Sahu
Shri Rawatpura Sarkar University, Raipur, Chhattisgarh, India.
Charu Rajpal
Department of Biotechnology, School of Engineering and Technology, Manav Rachna International Institute of Research and Studies, Faridabad, Haryana 121004, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Purpose: This study delves into the maternal understanding, attitudes, and practices related to nutrition and their potential implications for children's eating habits in India. Through a comprehensive examination, we aim to uncover valuable insights into the dynamics of maternal influence on children's dietary patterns in the specific cultural and contextual setting of India. The findings from this research contribute to a nuanced understanding of the interplay between maternal nutritional knowledge, attitudes, and practices, shedding light on potential avenues for targeted interventions to promote healthier eating habits among children in the Indian context. The structured questionnaire, encompassing dimensions of maternal nutritional knowledge, attitudes toward dietary practices, and specific behaviors influencing children's eating habits, serves as the primary tool for data collection. Anthropometric measurements of both mothers and children augment the dataset, offering a nuanced perspective on the nutritional status of participants. Limitations, such as reliance on self-reported data and the cross-sectional nature of the study, are acknowledged. Despite these constraints, this research aspires to contribute valuable insights into the intricate web of factors influencing children's eating habits within the unique socio-cultural landscape of India. The findings are expected to inform targeted interventions and policy recommendations, fostering healthier nutritional practices among children in this diverse and dynamic setting.
Keywords: Awareness, maternal nutritional knowledge, nutrition, health, attitude, practice