Parent's Use And Likely Use Of Nutrition Education Resources In The Mississippi Delta Region
Objective: To identify nutrition education resources currently being used and those likely to be used if made available by parents of elementary-aged children in the Mississippi Delta region. Methods: Surveys were completed by 214 parents (92% female, 88% African American) of children in grades K-2nd from three schools in the Mississippi Delta region. Survey items obtained nutrition education resources currently used by parents , those likely to be used if made available, mode of delivery and mediators (individuals) providing nutrition education. Results: Parents reported high importance that their child eats healthy. Physicians were identified as the primary mediator for delivering nutrition information but nutritionists were the preferred mediator. The resources that parents currently use most frequently are nutrition facts labels (mean = 3.58, SD ± 1.31), television shows (mean = 3.24, SD ± 1.12), healthy homework activities (mean = 3.18, SD ± 1.40) and other information from their child's school (mean = 3.0, SD ± 1.31), and magazines (mean = 3.05, SD ± 1.11). The least used resources were video games (mean = 1.49, SD ± .87), in-person healthy cooking classes (mean = 1.76, SD ± 1.03), online discussion boards (mean = 1.75, SD ± 1.01), healthy cooking classes online (mean = 1.84, SD ± 1.06), and online meal planners (mean = 2.07, SD ± 1.15). The top resources likely to use in the future mirrored what is currently being used. The least used resources reflected those requiring internet or wireless connections which were; online discussion boards (mean = 2.47, SD ± 1.34), mobile phone applications (mean = 2.69, SD ± 1.42), online healthy cooking classes (mean = 2.76, SD ± 1.49), tips from social media sites (mean = 2.81, SD ± 1.41), and video games (mean = 1.95, SD ± 1.31). Conclusion and Implications: Parents prefer traditional modes of delivery for nutrition education over internet and identified nutritionists as the preferred mediator. Future nutrition education resources and programs that tailor mode of delivery and format of nutrition education resources to parents' needs may have greater success in changing eating behaviors and foods prepared in the home.
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