FACTOR CONTRIBUTING TO PARENTAL AWARENESS OF CHILDHOOD OBESITY AMONG THAI PRESCHOOL CHILDREN

Authors

  • Jittima Rodsawad Health Impact Assessment Division, Department of Health, Ministry of Public Health Tiwanon Road, Muang District, Nonthaburi 11000,Thailand
  • Lertchai Charerntanyarak Faculty of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology, Khon Kaen University 123 Mittrapap Road, Amphur Muang, Khon Kaen Province 42000, Thailand
  • Benjawan Tawatsupa Health Impact Assessment Division, Department of Health, Ministry of Public Health Tiwanon Road, Muang District, Nonthaburi 11000,Thailand

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.24297/jssr.v6i3.4333

Keywords:

childhood, obesity, parental awareness, Thai preschool children

Abstract

Thailand is undergoing nutritional transition from replacement of underweight to high prevalence of overweight and obesity in children. Family environment play critical role for successful prevention in childhood obesity. This study aims to determine factors contributing to awareness about childhood obesity among the parents and guardians of preschool children in an urban area of Nakon Prathom province, Thailand. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 588 parents or guardians of preschool children at levels 1 and 2 of a kindergarten school. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire. Logistic regression was used to analyze related factors and covariates influencing parental awareness. A total of 495 (84.2%) completed questionnaires. Parental awareness was significantly associated to their education level and their beliefs regarding various approaches to combating childhood obesity. A number of demographic variables (age, household monthly income, family caregiver) had no statistically significant associations with parental awareness. The study indicated that incorrect beliefs increased the risk of low parental awareness about childhood obesity. Health education should be provided to increase knowledge of parents and guardians about ways of dealing with the problems of obesity and to help them to maintain healthy weights in their children.

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References

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JOURNAL OF SOCIAL SCIENCE RESEARCH

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Published

2015-02-16

How to Cite

Rodsawad, J., Charerntanyarak, L., & Tawatsupa, B. (2015). FACTOR CONTRIBUTING TO PARENTAL AWARENESS OF CHILDHOOD OBESITY AMONG THAI PRESCHOOL CHILDREN. JOURNAL OF SOCIAL SCIENCE RESEARCH, 6(3), 1159–1167. https://doi.org/10.24297/jssr.v6i3.4333

Issue

Vol. 6 No. 3 (2015)

Section

Articles

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Creative Commons License All articles published in Journal of Advances in Linguistics are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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