Journal: |
Egyptian Journal of Nursing & Health Sciences
Faculty of Nursing- Modern University (MTI) Egypt
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Volume: |
3
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Abstract: |
Abstract
Background: Early life is a crucial period for human development. Picky eating behavior
refers to rejecting new or unfamiliar foods and preferring food that lead to less food intake
diversity which in turn lead to growth disruption. Moreover, current estimates of picky eating
prevalence among preschoolers vary widely. Hereafter, the current study aimed to investigate
the determinants of picky eating among preschoolers in Zagazig city, Egypt. Design: This
study employed a cross-sectional descriptive research design. Setting: The present study was
carried out in six non-governmental nursery schools in Zagazig city, Sharkia governorate,
Egypt. Sample: comprised 272 preschoolers and their primary caregiver where children were
from both sexes; aged 2 through 5 years; the child's primary caregiver ready to take part in
the research and competent to communicate. Tools: four tools were used; interview
questionnaire (Socio-demographic characteristics & child related questions), Anthropometric
measurements, Parental Feeding Style Questionnaire and Child Eating Behavior
Questionnaire. Results: from 272 preschoolers, 137 (50.4%) were picky eaters, 41.5% of
children were obese, 19.5% had sever stunting and 3.7% had sever wasting.
Prompting/encouragement and control overeating were the highest reported parental feeding
style domains. Meanwhile, satiety responsiveness and food fussiness were the highly reported
child eating behaviors. Moreover, statistically significant positive correlation was found
between instrumental feeding and emotional feeding and encouragement, also, between
emotional feeding and encouragement, while a statistically significant negative correlation
was observed between instrumental feeding and picky eating. Conclusion: Picky eaters under
five years of age are relatively prevalent. Parents bear responsibility towards their children
picky eating behavior. No relation was recorded between picky eating and nutritional status
(WHZ, WAZ and HAZ) of preschool children. Recommendations: Caregivers of children
fewer than five need to be well informed and taught about feeding strategies and appropriate
dietary interventions to develop sound child feeding practices and eating behaviors. Future
research is advised to examine any connections between fussy eating and a child's
development.
Keywords: Picky Eating, Stunting, Wasting, Parental Feeding Style, Child Eating Behavior,
Sharkia Governorate
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