• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.196-204
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• 2014

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine levels of knowledge, attitude towards infant oral health, and related health behavior of parents. Methods: The sample consisted of 380 parents who were providing care for a child ranging in age from 11 to 16 months. Results: Participants obtained information on infant oral health via the internet, infant care books, and friends. While showing the correct attitude towards infant oral health, the parents were ill-informed regarding infant oral health and engaged in low levels of appropriate health behavior. There were statistically significant differences in infant oral health knowledge according to parents age, education, income, and age of infant. Attitude towards infant oral health was significantly different according to parents education and income. Also, there were significant differences in health behavior practice for infant oral health according to parents age, income, caregiver, and infant age. A significant positive relationship was found between knowledge and attitude to infant oral health. Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that for maintenance and improvement of infant oral health, the parents and caregivers of infants should be provided with information and specific methods for infant oral health care.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.102-113
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• 2013

The purpose of this study was to examine parental perceptions on the importance, performance level, and satisfaction with foodservice quality at daycare centers in the Compensation and Welfare Service institute. The questionnaire was developed to measure thirty-two attributes of foodservice operations are administered to 598 parents and 23 foodservice supervisors from June 22, 2009 to July 10, 2009. The parents placed a high importance on the need for foodservices, earning 4.70 points out of 5 points. Their perceptions of foodservice quality menu, foodservice ingredients and effects, facilities, sanitation, and service scored even higher than performance. The overall satisfaction level for foodservice compared to performance was 4.33 and 4.03 points out of 5 points, respectively. Multiple regression analysis indicated that 98.6% of the variance in parents' overall satisfaction scores was explained by six dimensions.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.46 no.8
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• pp.997-1011
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• 2017

This study aimed to evaluate the applicability of "food and nutrition standards for child care setting in the Seoul Metropolitan Government" using quantitative and qualitative surveys and lay the groundwork for future expansion. To evaluate the understanding and applicability of each item of the standards and utilize goodness of fit as an evaluation item to improve practicality of the child care center's health foodservice, we surveyed 82 child care centers, kindergartens, and community children centers in Seoul by e-mail through the Seoul Metropolitan Government in November 2015. Using focus group interviews with directors of child care centers and kindergartens as well as dieticians of child care support centers who had conducted public foodservice in Seoul, the appropriateness of each standard was finally reviewed, and amendments to extend this standard were derived. Results of the survey show an understanding of 86.9% and an applicability of 80.7%. Moreover, the applicability of the evaluation items for assessing improvement of health foodservice practices at the child care center was 82.6%. Qualitative evaluation of the applicability of standards through focus group interviews identified four factors for extended application: necessity of a guideline for separate food ingredient suppliers, conformity of the basis and purpose of the item, consideration of contextual situations, and necessity of establishing a Seoul-level foundation. Therefore, guidelines for the standards should be suggested for those providing public food services for children. Furthermore, separate guidelines categorized by items that food ingredient suppliers need to provide should be mandatory or recommended. Evaluation of the applicability of the standards suggests that revising and supplementing the guidelines in order to extend the standards can contribute to health promotion and a sustainable environment for children using public foodservice. Follow-up studies and supports are needed for sustainable food and nutrition management programs.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.52 no.10
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• pp.1090-1102
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• 2009

Purpose:To evaluate current feeding practices and maternal nutritional knowledge on complementary feeding. Methods:Mothers of babies aged 9-15 months who visited pediatric clinics of 14 general hospitals between September and December 2008 were asked to fill questionnaires. Data from 1,078 questionnaires were analyzed. Results:Complementary food was introduced at 4-7 months in 89% of babies. Home-made rice gruel was the first complementary food in 93% cases. Spoons were used for initial feeding in 97% cases. At 6-7 months, <50% of babies were fed meat (beef, 43%). Less than 12-month-old babies were fed salty foods such as salted laver (35%) or bean-paste soup (51%) and cow's milk (11%). The following were the maternal sources of information on complementary feeding: books/magazines (58%), friends (30%), internet web sites (29%), relatives (14%), and hospitals (4%). Compared to the 1993 survey, the incidence of complementary food introduction before 4 months (0.4% vs. 21%) and initial use of commercial food (7% vs. 39%) had decreased. Moreover, spoons were increasingly used for initial feeding (97% vs. 57%). The average maternal nutritional knowledge score was 7.5/10. Less percentage of mothers agreed with the following suggestions: bottle formula weaning before 15-18 months (68%), no commercial baby drinks as complementary food (67%), considering formula (or cow's milk) better than soy milk (65%), and feeding minced meat from 6-7 months (57%). Conclusion:Complementary feeding practices have considerably improved since the last decade. Pediatricians should advise timely introduction of appropriate complementary foods and monitor diverse information sources on complementary feeding.