Perception of Free School Foodservice in Middle School Students' Parents in Chungnam

ABSTRACT

This study compared the perception, necessity, and satisfaction of free school foodservice among parents of students with and without access to free school foodservice. The sample included parents of students with access to free school foodservice (FSF group, 250 parents) or paid school foodservice (PSF group, 250 parents) in Taean, Chungnam. With regard to perception of school foodservice, 30% of PSF parents responded that it is a necessary part of school education, whereas 52% of FSF parents considered it as a part of national welfare service; this difference was significant (P<0.001). In terms of positive remarks, most parents in the PSF group highlighted convenience whereas the FSF group answered that their children were penalized; this difference was significant (P<0.001). In addition, 94% of PSF parents and 96.8% of FSF parents indicated that school foodservice is necessary. In terms of the perception of the free school foodservice, more FSF parents (96.4%) than PSF parents (84.4%) answered that they knew free school foodservice well; this difference was significant (P<0.001). With regard to target recipients of the free school foodservice, most parents in the PSF group said that needy students should be selected, whereas the FSF group said that all students should be eligible; this difference was significant (P<0.001). Acceptance of free school foodservice in the FSF group (34.4%) was significantly higher than that in the PSF group (23.2%). Satisfaction with free school foodservice was 3.5 points in the FSF group, which was significantly higher than the 2.9 points in the PSF group (P<0.001). In summary, parents of students with access to free school foodservice showed more positive perception and higher satisfaction than parents of students with paid school foodservice. This study recommends that parents' suggestions be considered and further perception and responses on free school foodservice be investigated.