Nutritional status of 3~5 year old children attending kindergarten and childcare facilities: Using data from the 2010 and 2014 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys / 한국영양학회지

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the nutritional status of 3~5 year old children attending kindergarten and childcare facilities in 2010 and 2014. METHODS: Data were obtained from the 2010 and 2014 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (KNHANES) and included 509 subjects aged 3~5 years old attending kindergarten and childcare facilities. RESULTS: In 2014, rate of skipping meals by children was 16.2%, an increase of 5.5% compared with the rate of skipping meals by children in 2010. Calcium intake in 2014 was 397.41 mg at 3 years old, 419.27 mg at 4 years old, and 414.01 mg at 5 years old. For the mean nutrient adequacy ratio (MAR) of subjects in 2010 and 2014, MAR at 3 years old (0.86) was significantly lower than those at 4 and 5 years old (0.90, 0.91) (p < 0.01). In 2010 and 2014, EAR intake at 3 years old (2.72) was significantly higher than those at 4 years old (2.14) and 5 years olds (1.92) (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: As a result, compared with 2010 before establishment of the Children's foodservice management center, there was no improvement in the polarization of nutrient intake of children in 2014. Therefore, researchers believe that a continuous monitoring system developed by nutrition experts and children's foodservice management center are needed to improve the nutritional status of children. Of children between the ages of 3~5 years old, those with intakes under EAR were mostly 3 years old. Therefore, researchers suggest that the infant age group of KDRIs, which is classified as 1~2 years old and 3~5 years old, needs to be reestablished considering the growth and development of infants.

Food Allergy Awareness and Nutritional Management by Preschooler's Faculty Members of Child Care Facilities / 대한지역사회영양학회지

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to investigate the awareness and nutritional management of food allergy (FA) by preschooler's faculty members in child care centers. METHODS: A questionnaire survey was conducted among faculty members of child care centers in Seoul. The questionnaire was designed to identify the prevalence of food allergies, requirements of food allergy support and differences in food management depending on the presence of allergic diseases. After excluding incomplete responses, the data of 171 faculties in 137 child care centers (95.0%) were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: According to the 137 collected questionnaires, 96 child care centers asked parents about their children's allergic disease and 151 children from 66 child care centers had food allergies. A reported 89 children from 43 child care centers had food restrictions. However, 9 child care centers (21.0%) were not aware of food restriction for children with food allergies. Only 6 child care centers (14.0%) supplied substitute foods with the same amount and type of nutrients. Forty eight faculties (28.1%) received training about food allergies. Although there were some differences according to institution type, most of the faculty members wanted food allergy-related support. CONCLUSIONS: This study identified a lack of food allergy training for faculty members in child care centers. For proper management, it is necessary for faculty members of child care centers to be educated on overall food allergies. Food allergy-related support such as menus without allergenic ingredients, guidelines on emergency care for food allergies and anaphylaxis should be provided for faculty members in child care centers.