Effects of the Eating Behaviors Promotion Program for Kindergarteners in Dusit District, Bangkok

Abstract

The objective of this paper was to study the effects of the eating behaviors promotion program for kindergarteners in the Dusit District, Bangkok, the developed program based on the Precede Framework comprised three phases, namely: 1) Predisposing factors; 2) Enabling factors; and 3) Reinforcing factors. The sample used in study consisted of 32 kindergarteners and their parents. Under-nourished or over-nourished kindergarteners in a school in the Dusit District, Bangkok, were selected to participate in the program. The purposive sample consisted of 32 parents and 32 under-nourished or over-nourished, not on a medically restricted diet and without communication difficulty kindergartners whose meals provided by their parents. The research instruments included a knowledge and understanding test on food consumption behaviors, a questionnaire for kindergarteners and their parents, and a record on food consumption behaviors. Data were analyzed by using mean, standard deviation, and t-test. The results of this research were as follows: 1) After entering the program, the parents of kindergarteners had higher knowledge and understanding scores on food consumption than before entering the program at the .05 level of significance. 2) After the program, kindergarteners had higher food consumption behavior scores than before entering the program at the .05 level of significance. In conclusion, the parents participating in program can promote healthy food choices for preschool children.