Factors Influencing Nutritional Status of Pre-School Age Children Development Centers in Subdistrict Municipality Mueang Si Khai Subdistrict Warinchamrab District, Ubonratchathani Province

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Abstract

The predictive correlational research aimed to study the parental factors influencing nutritional status of pre-school children. The samples consisted of 88 parental pre-school children. The samples were selected by random simple sampling. The research instruments were questionnaire which developed by researcher. The content validity and reliability of the nutritional knowledge questionnaire was analyzed by using KR-20 at 0.71. The food providing behaviors and nutritional care behaviors questionnaire were also analyzed by using Cronbach’ s alpha coefficient at 0.83 and 0.76, respectively. The data were analyzed by Descriptive statistics, Pearson’s correlation coefficient and Stepwise multiple regression analysis.

The results revealed that the two predisposing factors were statistically significantly associated and could predicted nutritional status of pre-school age children. The food providing behaviors (β = 2.31, p < .05) and nutritional care behaviors (β = 0.485, p < .05) were significantly positively correlated and could predicted nutritional status of pre-school age children at the level of 39% (R2 = 0.399, p < .05). The result of this study could be used as guideline to develop the promoting program for parental of pre-school age children and they could be able to care the children for development of maturity and good nutritional status.