ABSTRACT
This study examined pre-school children's understanding of the concept of cancer and their parent's perceptions of their child's understanding of cancer. Parents completed a questionnaire and pre-school children were administered an interview. The results showed that when children indicated that they knew something about cancer, their responses associated cancer with something medical, bad or harmful, or sickness or an illness. Parents correctly estimated their child's understanding of cancer if they had talked previously with their child about cancer. Children whose parents reported discussing cancer were more likely to give responses indicating some knowledge about cancer. Some children reported knowing about cancer in the absence of parent teaching.
Subject(s)
Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice , Neoplasms/psychology , Parents , Psychology, Child , Child, Preschool , Comprehension , Female , Humans , Interviews as Topic , Male , Surveys and Questionnaires , TeachingABSTRACT
This study investigates cultural differences in mothers' views regarding infant feeding and socialization. The majority of mothers reported breastfeeding as one of their methods of infant feeding, although more than half reported using both breast and bottle. Mothers in China expressed concerns that breastfeeding is not compatible with work outside of the home. American mothers were more likely to believe that breastfeeding is difficult to establish. "Happiness" was ranked the most important socialization goal by both groups. Public health initiatives must be culturally relevant and reflect an understanding of parenting values and beliefs.
