RESUMO
Aims: The study was designed to assess the changes in knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) of preschool teachers before and after 3 months of attending a nutrition education intervention program. Study Design: Place and duration of the study: Nine governmental and 13 private schools from 2 urban districts in Cairo, Egypt between September 2011 and March 2012. Methodology: We included 150 preschool teachers (149 female and 1 male) from 9 governmental and 13 private schools. The teachers filled a questionnaire regarding their KAP towards children nutrition. Re-evaluation was done using the same questionnaire 3 months after attending a nutrition education program. Results: Initially private school teachers had significantly higher nutrition knowledge and attitude than governmental teachers (P=.012 and <.001 respectively). This difference was eliminated post intervention regarding knowledge (P=.06) but private school teachers still had significantly higher attitude by then (P=.001). Although no significant difference was initially detected in practice (P=.53), that of private school teachers was significantly better post intervention (P=.007). Finally all enrolled teachers showed significant increase in KAP scores after attending the nutrition education sessions (P<.001 for all the KAPs). Conclusion: Nutrition KAPs are essential for preschool teachers and should thus be assessed and cyclically reinforced by educational programs.
RESUMO
Objective: To study the effect of heavy consumption of sugar sweetened beverages on serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25OHD) level and bone mineral density (BMD) in preadolescents. Study Design: Case-control. Place and Duration of Study: Outpatient clinic in Children`s hospital, Ain Shams University, between September, 2009 and July, 2010. Methods: A questionnaire to define the frequency of beverage consumption was filled by one thousand children within the age range of 8-12 years. Fifty children were selected from the heavy sugar sweetened beverages consumers and were compared to 50 clinically healthy age and sex matched children who gave no history of more than average sugar sweetened beverages intake. Each enrolled case filled a questionnaire that assesses duration of beverage intake, frequency and type as well as milk consumption. Questions concerning symptoms of pain, limitation of movement and fractures were also included. Anthropometric measurements were taken. Serum calcium and phosphorus were measured as well as the circulating 25OHD and dual-emission xray absorptiometry scan assessed their BMD Z-score. Results: Children who heavily consumed the sugar sweetened beverages had significantly lower 25 (OH) vitamin D, and BMD Z-score as compared to the controls (t= 4.05, P<0.001 and t= 3.73, P<0.001, respectively). There was significant negative correlations between duration of beverage intake and both BMD Z-score and 25OHD among heavy sugar sweetened beverage consumers(r=0.38, P=0.01 and r=0.4, P<0.001, respectively). A significant negative correlation was detected between duration of beverage intake and serum calcium among heavy sugar sweetened beverage consumers (r = -0.46 and P<0.001) and significant positive correlation between BMD Zscore and 25OHD among them (r = 0.69 and P<0.001). Conclusion: Sugar sweetened beverages intake is associated with a decrease in 25OHD which contributes to low bone mineralization in preadolescents and the duration of intake is the most determinant factor for this association. Consumption of carbonated beverages had more hazardous effect on 25OHD and BMD than packed fruit juice while milk intake showed an opposite effect. We recommend more awareness programs for preadolescents and their parents whether at school or as a part of national campaigns to boost healthy trends in beverage consumption.