Subject(s)
Family/psychology , Obesity/psychology , Child , Child Behavior , Feeding Behavior/psychology , Humans , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
We assessed the knowledge of and attitude toward breast-feeding of dietitians, nurses, and physicians who work with individuals in the Alabama Special Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants, and Children. On a scale of 0 to 100, dietitians expressed stronger interest in lactation (78.6) and exhibited greater knowledge (79.6) of the questions asked than nurses (74.5 and 73.0, respectively). Attitude and knowledge scores of physicians (70.2 and 75.5, respectively) were not statistically different from those of dietitians or nurses. Respondents disagreed greatly about the relationship of breast-feeding to weight loss and the appropriateness of oral contraceptives during breast-feeding 6 weeks postpartum. Professionals were more knowledgeable about benefits to infants than about maternal concerns. Results of this study suggest that professional breast-feeding education programs should address maternal concerns such as weight loss, contraception, and mastitis as well as benefits to the infant.
Subject(s)
Attitude of Health Personnel , Breast Feeding/psychology , Dietetics , Nurses/psychology , Physicians/psychology , Alabama , Clinical Competence , Female , Food Services , Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice , Humans , Male , Professional Competence , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
Women who participated in the Alabama WIC Program during 1986-88 and ceased breastfeeding during the months of May to August during those years breastfed an average 5.6 months. Slightly fewer than 15 percent of the women who breastfed continued for 12 months or longer; 45 percent continued for six months; 59 percent did so for 4 months; and 21 percent breastfed for one month or less. Breastfeeding duration was related positively and independently to increased maternal age and parity. Younger women were more likely than older women to stop breastfeeding due to perceived insufficient milk, in order to return to work or school, or to use oral contraceptives. Women who ceased breastfeeding at or after one year postpartum tended to be older.
Subject(s)
Breast Feeding , Mothers/psychology , Adolescent , Adult , Alabama , Child , Data Collection , Employment , Female , Food Services , Humans , Maternal Age , Mothers/statistics & numerical data , Parity , Time Factors , United States , United States Department of AgricultureABSTRACT
A study was undertaken to determine: the qualifications necessary to function on a nutrition support team as perceived by clinical dietitians working in this capacity, the actual role of the clinical dietitian on a nutrition support team, the ideal role of the clinical dietitian on a nutrition support team, and the extent to which clinical dietitians perceive differences between the ideal role expectation and actual performance. A questionnaire was developed and sent to a random sample of 300 clinical dietitians listed as members of a nutrition support service. The respondents indicated that the clinical dietitian should have at least a B.S., R.D., and 2 years' prior work experience before assuming responsibility on a nutrition support team. The dietitians indicated that they consistently take and evaluate diet histories and assess energy and protein needs. Moreover, they viewed these tasks as appropriate. They rarely administer or interpret antigen skin tests and do not perceive this as a function of the dietitian. For all other tasks, dietitians indicated that they should perform the duty or responsibility more often. Over half reported that they did not have adequate educational preparation to assume all of the responsibilities of the clinical dietitian on a nutrition support team.
Subject(s)
Dietetics , Food Service, Hospital , Adult , Attitude , Clinical Competence , Critical Care , Educational Status , Hospitals , Humans , Middle Aged , Nutritional Physiological Phenomena , Patient Care Team , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
Weight reduction attitudes and practices were obtained from a sample of 400 female students. Forty-eight percent reported using a weight loss program since admission to college. The programs most often selected included hypocaloric diets and exercise. Although the majority of subjects rated hypocaloric diets and exercise as good methods for weight reduction and indicated that they would recommend them to others, these methods supported the slowest rate of weight loss. Evidently, the side effects and costs of the other programs offset the rapid weight loss. Other methods, in descending order of use, included the Cambridge diet, drugs, weight loss clinics, and low-carbohydrate diets. Improved appearance was most often given as the reason for losing weight.
Subject(s)
Body Weight , Obesity/therapy , Adolescent , Adult , Appetite Depressants/therapeutic use , Attitude , Diet, Reducing , Dietary Carbohydrates/administration & dosage , Female , Humans , Middle Aged , Obesity/diet therapy , Obesity/drug therapy , Physical Exertion , School Health Services , StudentsABSTRACT
Three-day dietary intakes were obtained on forty-eight preschool children between two and five years old, who had followed a vegetarian diet since birth. Intakes were calculated for food energy and selected nutrients. In addition, the children were measured for height, weight, triceps and subscapular skinfolds, and arm circumference. Average dietary intakes of the children compared favorably with the Recommended Dietary Allowances. Calcium was the only nutrient consumed in less than optimal amounts. Average intakes of the calculated amino acids were adequate when compared with available information. In general, anthropometric data were below the standards established by HANES findings, the National Center for Health Statistics, and available arm circumference data.
