Nutrition teaching model, "Good Nutrition - Key to Healthy Children", to improve knowledge among primary school students

Abstract

Thailand is experiencing double burden malnutrition. Improving nutrition knowledge in schools using a nutrition teaching model can potentially lead to healthier attitudes and behaviors among students. This study’s objective was to test the effectiveness of the nutrition teaching model "Good Nutrition – Key to Healthy Children" for Grade 3 students in improving their nutrition knowledge. Assigned teachers from 2 public schools in peri-urban areas of Bangkok were trained using printed teaching materials during school breaks. At the beginning of the semester, Grade 3 students took a knowledge pre-test before starting the first topic. Thereafter, the trained teachers conducted the nutrition lessons according to the nutrition teaching model. After the last topic (5 and 8 months after the first topic for School 1 and School 2, respectively), students took a knowledge post-test. Results showed that the mean knowledge scores of 283 students from both schools increased significantly compared to pre-test scores (14.32±3.51 vs 13.14±3.06; p<0.001). Students also had significantly higher mean scores in 4 out of 8 topics (p<0.01), which indicates improved student knowledge. This study’s results suggest advantages in using this nutrition teaching model to improve students' nutrition knowledge.