Evaluation of a Nutrition Education Program for 5th Grade Students Provided by Community Health Centers in the Seoul Metropolitan Area

ABSTRACT

Children are an important target of health promotion activities due to the life long effects. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate a nutrition education program offered to primary school students by community health centers. Eight hundred and twenty-six children from 4 primary schools in Seoul voluntarily attended the program. Teachers taught the classes with materials that were provided to them. The subjects were asked to fill out a questionnaire before and then after completion of the program. The data were analysed by SPSS. The results showed that there were significant positive differences in the children's nutrition knowledge scores after the program (p<0.001). In terms of dietary attitude, the rate of 'yes' responses, as a desirable answer to many questions, had increased (p<0.001); however, this positive change in scores was not statistically significant. For dietary habit changes, it was shown that the proportion of children regularly eating breakfast five days a week had improved to 3.3%. And the proportion of children eating fast foods and instant foods decreased. There was no change in fruit intake, but vegetable intake increased (p<0.001). However, the children's overall dietary habit scores did not show a significant change. In the evaluation of the program, 52.3% of the subjects answered that was helpful, and they viewed 'fast food' as the most interesting topic, whereas 'nutrition labeling' was the most difficult topic in the program. The program's effectiveness was positive in terms of enhancing the 'nutrition knowledge', 'dietary attitudes', and 'dietary habits' of the children. Therefore, the above results indicate that this type of program, provided by community health centers, was effective for nutrition education.