Impact of a school-based culinary nutrition education program on vegetable consumption behavior, intention, and personal factors among Korean second-graders

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Veggiecation was developed to improve children's vegetable consumption through classroom lecture and cooking activities. In this study, we explored potential determinants of vegetable consumption behavior and intention, and examined the impact of Veggiecation on vegetable consumption behavior, intention and personal factors among Korean children. MATERIALS/METHODS: The 4-week Veggiecation program was implemented for second-graders in South Korea (35 children in the intervention group, 36 in the control group). We identified personal and environmental factors influencing vegetable consumption behavior and intention using multiple regression analyses. Consumption behavior, intention and, personal factors such as preference, attitude, and self-efficacy were compared between the groups before and after the intervention. RESULTS: Children's vegetable consumption behavior was significantly correlated with personal, social-, and physical-environmental factors as well as intention. Among the variables, preference was the most influential factor on intention, and attitude and intention had great influence on the behavior. After the program, children in the intervention group demonstrated significant improvements in vegetable consumption, intention, attitude, preference, and self-efficacy compared with children in the control group. CONCLUSION: Veggiecation, a school-based culinary nutrition education program, improved vegetable consumption and intention, as well as preference, attitude, and self-efficacy, in second-graders. Veggiecation has great potential, as a global program, to increase children's vegetable consumption. This program can be expanded through various channels, such as after-school programs or camps, to provide a positive impact for children.

Breastfeeding Initiation and Continuation by Employment Status among Korean Women

PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to examine the factors associated with initiation and continuation of breastfeeding among Korean women in relation to their employment status. METHODS: Data were collected using a web-based self-administered questionnaire from 1,031 Korean mothers living in Seoul with babies younger than 24 months. Demographic characteristics, education on breastfeeding, rooming in, breastfeeding during hospital stay, and breastfeeding knowledge were examined. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify factors associated with initiation and continuation at 1, 6 and 12 months according to mothers' employment status. RESULTS: Breastfeeding initiation rates were similar regardless of mothers' employment status. Continuation rates decreased for both groups of mothers, but were significantly lower among employed mothers at all duration points. Unemployed mothers who were able to keep their babies in the same room during the hospital stay were more likely to initiate breastfeeding. The factor that was consistently associated with breastfeeding continuation for all duration points among unemployed mothers was whether the mother breastfed during the hospital stay. Higher knowledge scores and having an infant with atopic dermatitis were also associated with breastfeeding continuation at 6 months and 12 months, respectively for unemployed mothers, and receiving education on breastfeeding was associated with 12-month continuation for employed mothers. CONCLUSION: These results emphasize the significant roles of hospitals for breastfeeding initiation and continuation, with rooming-in, initial breastfeeding practice and education during hospital stay as important practices. In addition, for working mothers to continue their breastfeeding, significant support from the workplace is crucial.