The Effect of NutriPlus Program among 1-5 Year Children in Daejeon Area - The Improvement in Nutritional Status of Children and Nutrition Knowledge and Attitude of Parents - / 대한지역사회영양학회지

This study investigated the effect of nutritional improvement of 1-5 year children participated in NutriPlus program. The program was carried out at Public health Center, Daedeok-gu, Daejeon from March 2009 to April 2011. The subjects were selected among applicants for low-income family financing of the government and included 90 children and their parents. they were divided into 2 groups (less than 6 months and more than 6 months of participation in the study). We analyzed the effects of NutriPlus program and nutrition education in both study groups. The results of this study were summarized as follows: The number of children with less than 10th percentile in height and weight and weight for height was decreased. The anemia prevalence rate was reduced from 64.4% to 8.9%. NAR value of subjects increased for energy, protein, calcium, iron, vitamin A, riboflavin, niacin and vitamin C. The education program improved knowledge and attitude of the parents. In nutrition knowledge according to the income level, there were greater changes in the group of less than 100% compared to the subsistence. In nutrition attitude according to the education level, there were greater changes in the group of middle school graduates than in high school graduates or college graduates. There were no difference between less than 6 months group and more than 6 months group in improvement of hemoglobin level, anthropometric data and nutrients intakes. Based on these results, we conclude that providing supplementary food to children and nutrition education brought positive effects on growth of the children.

A Study of the Sustainability of NutriPlus Program Effect - in Pohang Area - / 대한지역사회영양학회지

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of the NutriPlus+ Program and to observe how the improved statuses were maintained after the program's termination. The subjects were infants and their parents, who have participated in the NutriPlus+ Program conducted by South Healthcare Center in Po-hang for longer than six months, during the period 2007 - 2010. The survey was conducted with questionnaires, and scores were tabulated from each question. After the intervention of the program, scores representing degrees of nutrition knowledge and nutrition attitude increased. The rate of nutritional risk by anthropometric measurement decreased, and the prevalence rate of anemia was significantly decreased as well. The number of subjects lacking any nutrients, except for iron and vitamin C, decreased, which indicates that the NutriPlus+ Program was effective. After enough time had passed after the intervention's completion; however, the scores of nutrition knowledge and nutrition attitude decreased. The number of subjects with low height and weight (proportional to their age) relatively decreased, and the prevalence rate of anemia increased slightly. The number of subjects lacking in energy and calcium consumption increased as well, which indicates that the effect of the NutriPlus+ Program was not maintained after the program's termination.

Development of supplemental nutrition care program for women, infants and children in Korea: NutriPlus+

Onto the world-fastest ageing of society, the world-lowest fertility rate prompted a development of various policies and programs for a betterment of the population in Korea. Since the vulnerability of young children of low socio-economic class to malnutrition was clearly shown at the in-depth analysis of the 2001 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data, an effort to devise supplemental nutrition care program for pregnant/breastfeeding women, infants and preschool children was initiated. The program was designed to offer nutrition education tailored to fit the needs of the participants and special supplementary foods, using USDA WIC program as a benchmark. Based on the dietary intake of those age groups, target nutrients were selected and their major food sources were searched through nutrient content of foods and dietary pattern analysis. As a result, we developed 6 kinds of food packages using combinations of 11 different food items. The amount of each item in a food package was determined to supplement the intake deficit in target nutrients. Nutrition education in NutriPlus + aims to improve the nutrition knowledge, attitude, and dietary behaviors of the participants, and is provided through group lessons, individual counseling sessions and home visits. Breastfeeding is promoted with top priority in education for the health of both mother and baby. The eligibility guidelines were set for residency, household income, age, pregnancy/breastfeeding and nutritional risk such as anemia, stunting, underweight, and/or inadequate nutrient intake. Income eligibility was defined as household income less than 200 percent of the Korean poverty guidelines. A pilot study to examine the feasibility of program implementation was run in 3 public health centers in 2005 and expanded to 15 and 20 in the following 2 years. The result of 3-year pilot study will be reported separately along with the ultimate nationwide implementation of the NutriPlus + in 2008.