Nutritional Awareness Among Mothers With children in Early

Childhood and The Mothers With Children in Middle Childhood: A

Comparative Study

Polytechnic College of Davao del Sur, Inc.

GRADE 12-HUMSS

GROUP 3

Depio, Teodora B.

Villaver, Wendel S.

Omo, Angelica

Simila, Aljhenelle P.

Curato, Vincent Lloyd S.

Miel, Earl Rendell D.

Lopez, Rona A.

Briones, Jamillah Aprille S.

Dolores, Anna Marie C.

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 Acknowledgement

In every achievement there are always people behind who willingly extend

their aims to help. We owe an immense depth of gratitude for several special

people who had contributed for the completion of this research proposal.

With all our heart, we would like to thank Ms. Alma Mae Arcayda for being

a supportive adviser and sharing her knowledge about the study and how it should

be done.

To Mr. Sonny Kirk Heruela for being our statistician for his expertise on this

field and imparting his wide ideas towards this study and for giving us the

necessary information we needed in our study.

To the panelist for sharing their outrageous knowledge about this studies as

well as correcting our errors so that we could have a very comprehensive output.

To all our beloved subject teachers thank you also for imparting your

knowledge to us according for what you have learned in your previous study and

for all the advices and support.

A million thanks to our beloved parents who gave us the financial support

and inspirations throughout the whole course of the study.Their uncountable

support is deeply needed.

Above all to our Almighty Father for giving us wisdom, power and courage

to accomplish everything when this study seems to be interminable.

i
 ABSTRACT

Researches: Teodora B. Depio

Wendel S. Villaver

Earl Rendell D. Miel

Vincent Lloyd S. Curato

Angelica Omo

Aljhenelle P. Simila

Rona A. Lopez

Jamillah Aprille S. Briones

Anna Marie C. Dolores

Title: Nutritional Awareness among Mothers with children in early

childhood and the mothers with children in middle childhood: A
Comparative Study.

School: Polytechnic College of Davao del Sur, Inc. SY 2018-2019.

Adviser: Alma Mae S. Arcayda, LPT

Nutritional Awareness of Mothers towards the food intake of children helps to

improved the nutritional awareness of every mothers. This study aimed to
determine whether mothers are aware of what are the food they give to their
children if it is nutritious or not. This study was conducted to the mothers of Purok
1 and Purok 2 in one of the purok in San Isidro Magsaysay Davao del Sur. Using
descriptive-comparative method in obtaining necessary data for analysis and
interpretation. In order to arrive with an answer to the problem, Independent
Samples T-test was employed. Results of the test showed that mothers who had
children ages 1-8 years old which belongs to early childhood got higher mean
score than mothers who had children age 9-12 years old which belongs to middle
childhood. When analysis was made in order to ascertain whether the difference
in the mean scores can be considered as significant, findings indicate significant
difference as manifested by the result of the significance value which is found to
be higher than the .05 level of significance set for this study. This implies that the
mothers with children in early childhood and middle chilhood are aware about the
nutritional facts.

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 TABLE OF CONTENTS

TITLE PAGE…………………………………………………………………………………………………

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT………………………………………………………………………………….i

ABSTRACT…………………………………………………………………………………………………ii

APPENDICES……………………………………….………………………………………………….…iv

CHAPTER

I INTRODUCTION………………………………………………………………………………1

Statement of the Problem…………………………………………………………………3

Hypothesis of the Study…………………………………………………………………..4

Scope and Delimitations………………………………………………………………….4

Significance of the Study………………………………………………………………..4

Theoritical and Conceptual Framework…………………………………………….5

Definition of Terms………………………………………………………………………..7

II REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE……………………………………………………..9

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 Foreign Literature……………………………………………………………………………9

Local Literature………………………………………………………………………………11

Local Research……………………………………………………………………………….12

National Research…………………………………….…………………………………….15

International Research……………………………………………………………………18

III METHODS……………………………………………………………….……………………….21

Research Design…………………………………………………………………………..21

Sampling Technique……………………………………………………………………..21

Respondents…………………………………………………………………………………22

Research Instruments……………………………………………………………………22

Data Gathering Procedures…………………………………………………………….23

Data Analysis………………………………………………………………………………..23

Statistical Treatment………………………………………………………………………24

IV RESULTS AND DISSCUSION……………………………………………………………..26

V SUMMARY, CONCLUSION, AND RECOMMENDATIONS…………………………31

iv
References……………………………………………………………………….…………..35

Appendices………………………………………………………………………………….37

Curriculum Vitae………………………………………………………………………….53

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 Chapter I

Problem and its Setting

This chapter includes the introduction or background of the study, statement

of the problem, hypothesis, scope and delimitation, significance of the study,

conceptual and theoretical framework, and the definition of terms.

Introduction or Background of the study

Nutrition is the study of nutrients in foods and in the body. Everyday, our body

changes as we grow old, meaning, the best food for us are those that can support

and provide our bodily needs as we grow. If the foods you eat provide too little

or too much of one or more nutrients everyday for years, then, by the time you

are old, you may suffer the effects of several diseases.

School age is the active growing phase of childhood. Primary school age is a

dynamic period of physical growth as well as of mental development of the child.

Research indicates that health problems due to miserable nutritional status in

primary school-age children are among the most common causes of low school

enrolment, high absenteeism, early dropout and unsatisfactory classroom

performance.

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 Undernutrition in childhood was and is one of the reasons behind the high

child mortality rates observed in developing countries. Chronic undernutrition in

childhood is linked to slower cognitive development and serious health

impairments later in life that reduce the quality of life of individuals. Nutritional

status is an important index of this quality. In this respect, understanding the

nutritional status of children has far-reaching implications for the better

development of future generations.

Growth monitoring is universally used to assess nutritional status, health and

development of individual children, and also to estimate overall nutritional status

and health of populations. Compared to other health assessment tools, measuring

child growth is a relatively inexpensive, easy to perform and non-invasive process.

Geographical relocation from rural areas to urban localities will expose

migrants to new environmental challenges. Urban slum dwellers are exposed to

poor environmental conditions (overcrowding, poor quality drinking water and

sanitation, no removal of waste). Ignorance and difficult conditions of life in the

slums are likely results to improper food habits, low health care use and hygiene

awareness and lack of knowledge of the origin of sickness and proper measures

for the cure. The situation is further worsened due to lack of necessary health

centers, medicines, and health care personnel. Children living under such

conditions are at especially high risk for health and nutritional problems.

Malnutrition is a global problem in the developing countries, the high mortality

rates among children due to infectious disease is reflection of their poor nutritional

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states (UNICEF, 2009). Malnutrition is a public health problem among children

under five years of age in the developing countries with the outcome usually being

high in Immuno Deficiency Problems (IDPs). Children are one of the major

vulnerable groups to malnutrition. Children under five years of age are more

vulnerable because they are at stage of rapid growth and development and their

immune system are not fully developed to fight infection (Robinson et al., 1990).

Statement of the Problem

This study sought to determine the nutritional awareness of mothers with

children in early childhood and those in middle childhood.

Specifically, this study aimed to answer the following questions:

1. What is the level of nutritional awareness of the mothers with children in

early childhood in Barangay San Isidro, Magsaysay, Davao del Sur?

2. What is the level of nutritional awareness of mothers with children in

middle childhood in Barangay San Isidro, Magsaysay, Davao del Sur?

3. Is there a significant difference between the nutritional awareness of

mothers with children in early childhood and mothers with children in

middle childhood?

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Hypothesis

The hypothesis was tested at 0.05 level of significance

There is no significant difference between the nutritional awareness of

mothers with children in early childhood and in middle childhood.

Scope and Delimitation of the Study

The respondents of this study were the mothers with children in early

childhood and mothers with children in middle childhood in Barangay San Isidro

Magsaysay Davao del Sur specifically in purok 1 and purok 2 because of it’s

geographical location and the population is higher. They were chosen as the

respondents of this study since they are the reliable and suitable sources of

information on the conducted study.

This study was conducted during the first semester, last October 13, 2018 in

the school year 2018-2019.

Significance of the Study

The findings of this study will help the development of the health status of

children specifically in Brgy. San Isidro, Magsaysay, Davao del Sur.

Moreover, this study benefited on this following persons.

Brgy. Health Workers. The findings of this study will help them in choosing

programs that they offered to the community.

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 Local Government. The result of this study will help the barangay officials

in providing the nutritional needs of the children in the locality of Barangay San

Isidro Magsaysay Davao del Sur.

The Families. The study will increase the awareness of the family members

towards the health of members of the family therefore it will help them in

providing the needs of the family.

The Parents. Findings of this study will encourage the mothers to increase

their level of awareness about the importance and benefits of proper nutrition.

This also encouraged them to choose the proper food intake of their children and

family members.

Children. The findings of this study will help the children which age ranges

from 6-12 years old so that they will become aware of what food they intake that

given by their parents and for them to be aware if this food is healthy or not.

Future Researchers. The generated information would be useful for them

to identify differences as basis in planning and formulating future research studies.

Theoritical Framework &Conceptual Framework

This study was anchored on the theory of Hildegard Peplau which states that

if a person understand fully what is happening in the present situation, the

experience can be integrated with rather than dissociated from the experiences in

life. It can be associated with this study since if the mother is aware of the food

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intake of children age 4-12, they can integrate it to the food intake of their children.

Peplau’s interpersonal theory emphasizes social or interpersonal experience.

Peplau also discussed the importance of basic human needs. Needs must be

met if a healty state is to be achieved and maintained. For Peplau, the two

interacting components of health are Physiological demands (needs) and

interpersonal relations. ( Principles and Practise of Psychiatric Nursing, 2005)

Figure 1. A Schematic Diagram Showing the Independent and Dependent

Variable of this study.

The diagram shows the awareness of the mothers on the food intake of

children as the independent variable and the nutritional awareness of mothers

with children in early childhood and children in middle childhood as the dependent

variable. This diagram will shows if there is a significant difference of the

nutritional awareness of mothers with children in early childhood and mothers

with children in middle childhood.

Independent Variable Dependent Variable

LevelDependentriable
of Mothers of Children in
early childhood
Nutritional

Awareness

Mothers of Children in
Middle Childhood

Definition of Terms

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 The following terms are defined by the researchers to identify the specific

functions of each term:

Brgy. San Isidro Magsaysay Davao del Sur. This refers to the research setting

of the study where data collection was conducted. It is a rural place that most of

the source of income is farming and laboring (like harvesting rice crops and

plowing rice fields). San Isidro is one of the barangay in Kialig Magsaysay Davao

del Sur.

Mothers with children in early childhood. This refers to the children of the

mother respondents whose ages range from 1-8 years old and whose weight is

being collected; also refers to the subject of the study.

Mothers with children in middle childhood. This refers to the children of the

mother respondents whose ages range from 9-13 years old and whose weight is

being collected: also refers to the subject of the study.

Nutritional awareness among Mothers with children in early childhood

and the mothers with children in middle childhood. This refers to the

understanding of the mothers regarding to the food that their children intake; it

is described in the study as either very aware, aware, and not aware with a

corresponding equivalent of 3,2, and 1, respectively.

Nutritional Status of Children. This refers to the status of the children in terms

of their weight; it is described in the study as either above normal, normal, and

below normal based on the standard table of weight for every age.

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Respondents of the study. This refers to the mothers having children whose

ages range from 6-12 years old residing at brgy. San Isidro Mag. Davao del Sur.

Early Childhood. This refers to the children whose ages range from 6-8 years

old who are being the basis of the awareness of the mothers.

Middle Childhood. This refers to the children whose ages range from 9-12 years

old who are being the basis of the awareness of the mothers.

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 CHAPTER II

RELATED LITERATURE AND STUDIES

The review of related literature contains related information from local,

national, and international research or studies. This served as the basis and

backbone of the study.

Foreign Literature

A joint World Health Organization/UNICEF statement on ‘ten steps to

successful breastfeeding’ has stressed that newborn infants should not be given

any food or drinks other than breast milk (unless medically indicated) and that

mothers should be helped to start breastfeeding within half an hour of birth, stay

with their babies in the same room, and feed them on demand. According to the

study, none of the babies was breastfed within half an hour of birth. The time for

the first breastfeed ranged from 2 to 96 hours (mean 47.7 hours) after birth. Only

28.6 per cent were breastfed within the first 24 hours of birth. This is similar to

the experience of a resettlement colony in South Delhi, where more than half of

the children received their first breastfeed on the third day or later. The effect of

the time of first breastfeed to subsequent breastfeeding establishment and

duration has been documented.The earlier the initiation (within half an hour of

birth), the better the establishment and longer the duration of breastfeeding. It

9
also ensures the prompt intake of colostrums and the exclusion of contaminated

non-breast milk substitutes such as water, formula milk, herbal tea, and so on.

This initial step is most essential for the achievement of the next important

phase which is the practice of exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months. All

the babies in this study stayed in the same room with their mothers and were all

fed on demand. Demand feeding and rooming-in have been found to be common

practices in rural communities, and these two factors have been shown to have a

positive influence on breastfeeding, hence they are among the steps

recommended by WHO/UNICEF in the ten steps to successful breastfeeding.

Breastfeeding was established successfully for all the babies in this study even

though there was a delay in initiating breastfeeding. Even babies over 1 year

(except one 21-month-old child) were still breastfeeding at the time of the study.

The practices of demand feeding and rooming-in would have contributed to this

high breastfeeding rate and longer duration of breastfeeding. A similar

observation has been made in earlier studies. Breastfeeding is widely practiced in

rural communities (as 100 percent and 97.07 percent of mothers in our study and

the study by Benakappa respectively were breastfeeding their babies), but

exclusive breastfeeding rates in various studies have been extremely low (0 in this

study, 2 percent in NDHS, and 6 percent in a study by Robertson et al. Even in

the Nigerian Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) of 1990, not all of the 2

percent practice it for the first 6 months of life. The intention to breastfeed for 1

year or more was not influenced by the educational status or age of the mothers

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in this study, as all mothers agreed to breastfeed or were already breastfeeding

for 1 year or more. This contrasts with the findings in Ilorin, Nigeria by Fagbule9

and in Western Urhobo division of mid-Western Nigeria,15 where a shorter

duration of breastfeeding was found in mothers with higher educational status.

Local Literature

Most of the counseling in health care targeted at child nutrition is delivered

via the parents, but little is known about the effects of such counseling on

the nutrition knowledge and dietary habits of the parents. In the Special Turku

Coronary Risk Factor Intervention Project for Children (STRIP), they studied how

6.5 years of child-targeted nutrition counseling affected the knowledge, attitudes

and dietary habits of the parent mainly responsible for food purchase and

preparation. They used a questionnaire and a 24-h recall interview in a time-

restricted cohort of 98 families belonging to the intervention group and 89 families

belonging to the control group in the STRIP project. After controlling for

background variables, the intervention parents had better knowledge than the

control parents of causal relationships between food choices and coronary heart

disease and of the nutritional composition of foods.

Knowledge of nutrition concepts did not differ between the two groups. The

quality of fat was better in the diet of the intervention parents, they consumed

less salt and they also had more knowledge concerning these subjects compared

11
to the control parents (higher behavioral capability scores). The behavioral

capability scores of the total group correlated poorly with their nutrient intakes.

Thus, child-targeted nutrition intervention delivered to the parents increased

parental nutrition knowledge and improved the quality of the parents' diet.

However, as nutrition knowledge of the parents correlated poorly with their

nutrient intakes, other factors than knowledge appear to influence parental dietary

decisions, Räsänen, M., et. Al (2003).

Local Research

Government efforts to address inadequacy in food intake and at the same

time highlight the significance of nutrition are embedded in two major government

development plans. The 2004-2010 Medium-Term Philippine Development Plan

(MTPDP) outlines, among others, plans and programs to respond to the basic

needs of the poor through improved health and nutrition. The plan emphasizes

that the provision of essential services like nutrition shall constitute the vital

government interventions aimed at raising productivity, generating jobs, reducing

poverty, and promoting social justice (Beauchamp, 2005).

The 2005-2010 Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition (PPAN), as the country’s

blueprint for achieving nutritional adequacy for all Filipinos, envisions a Philippines

whose people are well nourished , healthy, intelligent, and socially and

economically productive with a high sense of human dignity. The plan specifically

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enumerates various objectives on reducing malnutrition, energy deficiency, iron

deficiency anemia, vitamin. A deficiency and others. In addition, the Philippines

as a signatory to the Millennium Declaration commits to the eight Millennium

Development Goals (MDG’s). Target 2 (Halve, between 1990 and 2015, the

proportion of people who suffer from hunger), Goal 1 (Eradicate extreme poverty)

of the ending MDGs has to indicators focusing on nutrition which are prevalence

of underweight children under 5 years of age, and the proportion of population

below minimum level of dietary energy consumption.

As nutrition is multifaceted that involves the food we eat and do not eat, the

energy and nutrient content of what we eat, its effect on our and height and even

the circumference of our belly and other anthropometric and biological factors are

relevant in assessing our overall nutritional status. This and other nutrition ( and

health) statistics are necessary to determine whether we have been eating the

right amount of right food at the right time to attain the right nutritional status

(Virola, 2005).

The Department of Health (DOH) advised parents and guardians to encourage

their school-age children to eat only healthy snacks during recess time by

preparing for them foods that are fortified with micronutrients. According to them,

children should be given nutritious snacks like healthy sandwiches and fresh fruits

as power baons, and not salty chips and sugary artificial drinks. The health chief

13
said death adults should not allow their children to develop poor snacking habits,

specially if they are away from home such as during school days.

Nutrition experts advised that when preparing sandwiches, adults should use

whole grain breads, cut-up veggies such as tomatoes, lettuce or cucumber and

low-fat dressings. They also suggested a different filling each day for variation.

Experts also recommended water, milk, fresh juices, milk/fruit/vegetables shakes,

sago at gulaman and buko juice as the best beverages for school-age children.

The DOH also utilized some strategies to improve child health. The integrated

Management of Childhood Illness aims at reducing morbidity and deaths due to

common childhood illness. The IMCI strategy has been adopted nationwide and

the process of integration into the medical, nursing, and midwifery curriculum is

now underway.

The Enhanced Child Growth strategy is a community-based intervention that

aims to improve the health and nutritional status of children through improved

caring through out the country. The study, 53.55 percent of mothers discarded

the colostrum. This was similar to the 58.4 per cent noted in a study in rural India,

Yorubas and Bambara in Mali. Significantly, a higher proportion of those with some

form of education (97.8 percent, 93 percent, and 2.5 percent with secondary,

primary and non-formal education respectively) gave their babies colostrum.

Those who did not give colostrum claimed it is bad and of no advantage to the

baby; 72.2 percent did not have any reason for giving colostrum and could not

mention any advantage of colostrum. Only 4.2 percent could mention at least two

14
advantages of colostrum. This was in contrast to the finding by Fagbule where

66.3 percent of mothers were aware of the advantages of giving colostrum to the

baby. Colostrum is said to be the child’s first immunization and its benefits,

especially its anti-infective properties, are well documented. Prelacteal feeds are

common in communities that have not been mobilized in practices that would

positively influence breastfeeding, as 100 percent and 90.9 percent of babies and

a study by Kumar respectively were given prelacteal feeds. The prelacteal feeds

given ranged from plain water, glucose water, formula milk, or herbal tea—from

birth, and continued even when breastfeeding had been established. It has been

shown that such prelacteal feeds are harmful and increase the prevalence of both

diarrhoea and respiratory infection.

Exclusive breastfeeding has been shown to reduce infant morbidity and

mortality. Babies breastfed exclusively in the first 6 months of life do not need

water supplements, even in a hot dry climate. However, in thE study, 58.4 percent

of mothers agreed that they would feed their babies with breastmilk only for the

first 6 months if a health worker recommended it.

National Research

Nutrient is the study about food and its relationship to health. The science of

nutrition (nutrients) discusses the properties of nutrients (nutrients) contained in

food, metabolic influence and the consequences that arise when there is a lack

(insufficiency) in nutrients (Paath, 2004). Almatsier states that Chemical bonds

15
the body to perform its functions, which produce energy, builds and maintains the

network and to manage the processes of life (2009). Supariasa (2001), then

believes that a process of organisms uses food consumed, normally through the

process of digestion, absorption, transport, storage, metabolism, and expenditure

substances that are not used to sustain life, growth and normal functioning of

organs, as well as generate energy. Nutrition is a very important requirement

needs to help the process of growth and development in infants and children. A

nutrient is an essential element in nutrition, since these nutrients may provide a

separate function on nutrition. The nutritional requirements will not function

optimally if it does not contain some nutrients in accordance with the needs of the

body, as well as adequate nutrition on nutritional needs will provide optimal value.

There are several components of nutrients needed in nutrition of infants and

children whose numbers are very different for each age. In general, nutrients are

divided into two classes, namely macro and micro group. Macronutrient contains

calories (derived from carbohydrates, fats and proteins) and H2O (water),

whereas the group of micronutrients composes of vitamins and minerals (Hidayat,

2008).

Consumption of food could affect the nutritional status of a person. Nutritional

status is good or optimal when the body is getting enough nutrients and used

efficiently, allowing the physical growth, brain development, employability and

general health at the highest possible level. Malnutrition status occurs when the

16
body experiences a deficiency of one or more essential nutrients. Nutritional status

occurs when the body gets the nutrients in excessive amounts, causing toxic or

harmful effects. The primary factor will occur if someone has wrong arrangement

of food in quantity and quality caused by the lack of food supply, lack of good

distribution of food, poverty, ignorance, wrong eating habits and so on. Secondly,

the factor includes all the factors that cause the nutrients do not reach the cells

of the body after the food is consumed. For example, the factors that lead to the

disruption of digestion, such as teeth are not good, structural abnormalities of the

gastrointestinal tract and enzyme deficiency. Factors that interfere with the

absorption of nutrients are the presence of parasites, the use of laxative and so

on. Meanwhile, factors that affect the metabolism and utilization of nutrients are

heart disease, diabetes mellitus, cancer, the use of certain drugs, alcoholic

beverages, and others. In addition, factors that influence the excretion causing

much loss of nutrients is a lot of urine (polyuria), a lot of sweat and use of drugs

(Almatsier, 2009).

Essentially, the assessment of nutritional status during the period of

assessment is similar to another life. The greater concern of examination, of

course, depends on the form of disorders related to the incidence of certain

diseases. Less calories of protein, for example, commonly can affects children.

Therefore, the examination of signs and symptoms that includes other disorders

needs to be sharpened. (Arisman, 2009).

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 Knowledge is a vital weapon in acquiring information that can be used to

overcome the nutrient problems encountered. One way to obtain knowledge is

through formal education. Low education families will be difficult to receive

direction in nutrition and they often do not want or do not believe in the

importance of meeting the needs of the importance of nutrition or other health

services that support in helping the growth and development of children. Families

with low educational background are also often unable, unwilling, or do not believe

in the importance of the use of health facilities that can support the growth and

development of their children (Supartini, 2004).

In general, the higher the education is gained the more easily a person to

receive information (Henry, 2010). Similarly, the education of a mother could

determine the supervision of their children in order to get healthy snacks at school,

but if the mother's education is high then the mother can easily keep an eye on

your intake of foods that are consumed in the information acquired.

International Research

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 According to one of the study which investigates the dietary habits of Flemish

preschoolers and associations of these habits with both sociodemographic

characteristics and the mother's nutritional knowledge and attitudes. A sample of

862 parents of preschoolers from 56 schools completed a questionnaire including

sociodemographic characteristics, a food-frequency questionnaire to assess

children's dietary intake, and a nutritional knowledge-and-attitude questionnaire.

Regression analysis showed a lower dietary adequacy in children of mothers with

low and medium level of education, medium-ranked occupation, and lower levels

of both nutritional knowledge and food-related health attitude. The highest excess

score (representing items that should be avoided or moderated) was found in

children of mothers with low education level, without a job, with three or more

children, of age less than 30 years, and possessing lower levels of nutritional

knowledge and attitude scores for health and taste. The associations of the dietary

adequacy and excess scores with sociodemographic background can help

practitioners to develop better-tailored nutrition interventions. The associations

with the mothers’ nutritional knowledge and attitudes support the inclusion of

knowledge and attitudes in dietary interventions (Vereecken, C., & Maes, L. 2010).

Increasing fruit and vegetable consumption is an important health behaviour.

Parental and other psychosocial influences on children's fruit and vegetable

consumption are poorly understood. The contribution of a variety of psychosocial

and environmental factors to consumption of fruit and vegetables by children aged

19
9–11 years was explored. Ninety-two mothers and children (48 girls and 44 boys)

were recruited via urban primary health-care practices. Socio-economic and

educational level, nutritional knowledge and health- and diet-related beliefs and

attitudes were assessed in mothers and children by questionnaires and

semistructured interviews. Mothers diets were measured by a food frequency

questionnaire, while children's diets were assessed by 3-day diaries (N=80). The

pattern of influence of the various measures on fruit and vegetable consumption

was compared with that on children's confectionery intake. The children's intakes

of macronutrients were typical for the U.K. (37% fat, 50% carbohydrate and 13%

protein by energy; 12 g/day fibre), while median fruit, fruit juice and vegetable

intake amounted to about 2·5 servings/day. Univariate correlations and

subsequent multiple regression analyses revealed quite different influences on the

three food types. Independent predictors of children's fruit intake included

mothers nutritional knowledge (β=0·37), mothers frequency of fruit consumption

(β=0·30) and mothers attitudinal conviction that increasing fruit and vegetable

consumption by their children could reduce their risk of developing cancer (β=0·27;

multipler2=0·37,p<0·0001). Children's vegetable consumption was independently

explained by the child's liking for commonly eaten vegetables (β=0·36) and the

mother's belief in the importance of disease prevention when choosing her child's

food (β=−0·27r2=0·20,p<0·001). Children's confectionery consumption was

predicted by the mother's liking for confectionery (β=0·32) and the children's

concern for health in choosing what to eat (β=–0·26r2=0·16,p<0·005). Children's

20
consumption of fruit and vegetables are related to different psychosocial and

environmental factors. Promotion of this behaviour may require attention to

nutritional education and child feeding strategies of parents (Gibson, E. L., Wardle,

J., & Watts, C. J. 1998).

21
 CHAPTER III

METHODOLOGY

This chapter discusses the procedures and strategies used in the study. it is

prepared under the following sections: research design, locations of the study,

study population, sampling technique, research instrument, data collection

technique and logistical and ethical consideration to assure the validity and

reliability of the research.

Research Design

This study used the descriptive-comparative method in obtaining necessary

data for analysis and interpretation. Key (1997) defined Descriptive research as a

method use to obtain information concerning the status of the phenomena to

describe, “what exists” with respect to variables or conditions in a situation. The

descriptive method is used to indicate the relationship of two random variables. It

provides a measure of the strength and direction and was tested at 0.05 level of

significance.

Sampling Technique

This study used the purposive sampling, which was used in selecting the

respondents to know the level of awareness on the food intake of their children.

22
Mothers of the children in early childhood and the mothers with children in middle

childhood are selected due to the geographic location and high population. It was

conducted at Purok 1 and 2 Brgy. San Isidro Magsaysay Davo del Sur.

Research Respondents

The respondents of the study were 66 mothers with children in early childhood

and middle childhood residing at Brgy. San Isidro Magsaysay Davao del Sur. The

subjects of the study were the children of those mothers.

Research Instruments

A validated survey questionnaire was the instrument used in data collection.

The questionnaire composed of two parts. Part 1 contain the profile of the

respondents and the weight of the children. The part 2 of the questionnaire

comprised of the checklist of the questions, which the respondents filled up as

very aware (2.5 and above), aware (1.5-2.49) or not aware (below 1.49). The

questionnaire was adopted from an unpublished thesis entitled “Nutritional

Awareness of Mothers and Nutritional Status of Their Children Ages 6-12 years old

in Apo Beach, Zone 3, 2007” by Villegas et.al (2007) and was then modified.

23
Figure 1. The Interpretation for the Nutritional Awareness of Mothers

Mean Range Descriptive Rating Interpretation

2.51 – 3.0 High The mothers are very aware about

the nutritional facts

1.76 – 2.50 Moderate The mothers are aware about the

nutritional facts

1.0 – 1.75 Low The mothers are not aware about

the nutritional facts

Data Gathering Procedures

Letters requesting the:

1. Practical Research Adviser, Ms. Alma Mae S. Arcayda, LPT;

2. Principal , Mr. Rodel Jun Hernandez LPT. MPA TO allow us to conduct the

study. After it was approved, the researchers made another letter requesting

the;

3. Brgy. Captain, Hon. Darwin Nasilla of Brgy. San Isidro Magsaysay Dvao del

Sur;

24
 4. Afterwards the researchers make another letter for the respondents of

Brgy. San Isidro Magsaysay to obtain permission to conduct the study in

the said barangay;

5. The researchers used a validated survey questionnaire. The questionnaire

was adopted from an unpublished thesis which was then modified by the

researchers and adviser;

6. Needed copies of survey questionnaire were generated, the researchers

conducted a house to house survey;

7.The researchers first introduced themselves to the respondents and

explained the purpose of the survey;

8. The survey questionnaire were distributed and translated to the

respondents as needed;

9.The questionnaire were retrieved after it was answered by the respondents.

The gathered data were analyzed and statistical treatment followed.

Data analysis

Raw data was entered in Excel. Appropriate summary tables, graphs, charts

and summarized information were used to enhance the description made.The

quantitative data that is being encoded in excel was transfer to Statistical Package

for the Social Science (SPSS) for the interpretation and computation of the

25
gathered data in order to find the result. Food consumption's patterns, and

nutritional awareness of others with children in early childhood and children in

middle childhood were summarized using descriptive statistics, 0.05 coefficient

was used to determine the presence, strength and direction of significant

differences of the awareness of mothers with children in early childhood and those

in middle childhood. Simple regression was used to assess the determinants of

the nutritional awareness of mothers with children in early childhood and children

in middle childhood.

Statistical Treatment

Mean – descriptive statistics. This was used to measure the level of

nutritional awareness of the mothers with children in early childhood and the level

of nutritional awareness of mothers with children in middle childhood.

T- test – inferential. This was used to measure the significant difference

between the nutritional awareness of mothers with children in early childhood and

mothers with children in middle childhood.

26
 CHAPTER IV

Results and Discussion

This chapter presents the results which gathered, treated, and analyzed data

on the level of nutritional awareness of mothers in Barangay San Isidro Magsaysay

specifically in Purok 1 and Purok 2. Furthermore, discussion of the results of data

is also presented.

Table 2. The level of Nutritional Awareness of mothers with children in early

childhood

Mean Descriptive Rating Interpretation

2.27 moderate the mothers are aware about

the Nutritional facts

27
 The table above shows that the nutritional awareness of the mothers with

children in early childhood has a mean score of 2.27, or moderate. This means

that the mothers with children in early childhood are aware about the nutritional

facts. This implies that mothers’ awareness about the nutritional facts is only

moderate.

This result can be supported by the study of Paath; Almatsier; and Supariasa.

Nutrient is the study about food and its relationship to health. The science of

nutrition (nutrients) discusses the properties of nutrients (nutrients) contained in

food, metabolic influence and the consequences that arise when there is a lack

(insufficiency) in nutrients (Paath, 2004). Almatsier states that Chemical bonds

the body to perform its functions, which produce energy, builds and maintains the

network and to manage the processes of life (2009). Supariasa (2001) then

believes that a process of organisms uses food consumed, normally through the

process of digestion, absorption, transport, storage, metabolism, and expenditure

substances that are not used to sustain life, growth and normal functioning of

organs, as well as generate energy.

28
Table 3. The level of Nutritional Awareness of mothers with children in middle

childhood

Mean Descriptive Rating Interpretation

2.26 moderate the mothers are aware about

the Nutritional facts

The table above shows that the nutritional awareness of the mothers with

children in middle childhood has a mean score of 2.26, or moderate. This means

that the mothers with children in middle childhood are aware about the

nutritional facts. This implies that mothers’ awareness about the nutritional facts

is only moderate.

This result supported by the study of Supariasa (2001), in determining the

classification of nutritional status, there should be a standard measure; it is

commonly called a reference. Recently, the standard of anthropometric used in

Indonesia is WHO-NCHS Antro, showed by Directorate of Indonesia Community

Nutrition that has been widely used it in monitoring of the nutritional status (PSG)

29
of children under five in 1999. Workshop on Anthropometrics in 1975 introduced

Harvard standard. By spring anthropometry, Ciloto, the workshop 1991 has

recommended the use of the WHO-NCHS reference standard (Indonesian

Nutrition, 1990) which was divided into four aspects, such as:

a) more nutrition for overweight, including obesity.

b) good nutrition for well nourished.

c) malnutrition for under weight that includes mild and moderate PCM (Calorie

Protein Malnutrition).

d) Malnutrition to severe Calorie Protein Malnutrition (PCM), including marasmus,

and kwashiorkor marasmik-kwasiokor.

30
Table 4. The level of Nutritional Awareness of mothers with children in middle

childhood

Sig value interpretation Decision

0.191 there is no significant

Difference between accept the null

The nutritional hypothesis

Awareness of mothers

With children in

Early childhood

And in middle

Childhood

The table shows that the computed p-value is 0.191 which is higher than

0.05, thus, there is no significant difference between the nutritional awareness

of mothers with children in early childhood and in middle childhood. Hence, the

null hypothesis is accepted.

31
 This result supported by the study of Arisman Essentially, the assessment of

nutritional status during the period of assessment is similar to another life. The

greater concern of examination, of course, depends on the form of disorders

related to the incidence of certain diseases. Less calories of protein, for example,

commonly can affects children. Therefore, the examination of signs and symptoms

that includes other disorders needs to be sharpened. (Arisman, 2009).

32
 CHAPTER V

SUMMARY, CONCLUSION, AND RECOMMENDATIONS

This chapter presents the summary which is written in narrative form, the

findings according to the statement of the problem, the conclusions were based

on the findings and recommendation were based on the few conclusion.

SUMMARY

This study aimed to determine the nutritional awareness of mothers with

children in early childhood and mothers with children in middle childhood in

Brgy. San Isidro Magsaysay Davao del Sur. Specifically, it sought to answer

the following questions, a.) What is the level of nutritional awareness of the

mothers with children in early childhood in barangay San Isidro, Magsaysay,

Davao del Sur? b.) What is the level of nutritional awareness of mothers with

children in middle childhood in barangay San Isidro, Magsaysay, Davao del Sur?

c.)Is there a significant difference between the nutritional awareness of

mothers with children in early childhood and mothers with children ina middle

childhood?

33
 This study was conducted at Brgy. San Isidro Magsaysay Davao del Sur.

Modified and validated survey questionnaire were used to gather data since this

study used the descriptive-comparative method research. The data were tallied in

excel, analyzed and interpreted based on the statement of the problem of the

study using the SPSS. There were 66 mother respondents in Brgy. San Isidro were

considered as the subject of the study.

The purpose of this study is to determine the nutritional awareness of mothers

with children in early childhood and children in middle childhood and if there is a

significant difference between the nutritional awareness of mothers with children

in early childhood and mothers with children in middle childhood. The researchers

used a validated survey questionnaire to collect the data. After conducting the

survey, the researchers encoded the data in excel and transferred it to SPSS for

the interpretation of the data. As the data was interpreted the researchers come

up with the result of: in table 2 shows the mean of 2.27 or moderate which means

the mothers with children in early childhood are aware of the nutritional facts;

while in table 3 the mean is 2.26 or moderate and also means that the mothers

with children in middle childhood is aware of the nutritional facts; lastly, the table

4, shows the computed p-value of 0.191 which is higher than 0.05, thus, there is

no significant difference between the nutritional awareness of mothers with

children in early childhood and in middle childhood. Hence, the null hypothesis is

accepted.

34
CONCLUSIONS

In the results of the findings derived from this study, the following conclusions

were derived: The mothers with children in early childhood are aware about the

nutritional facts with an average of 2.27. This implies that mothers’ awareness

about the nutritional facts is only moderate,The mothers with children in middle

childhood are aware about the nutritional facts with an average score of 2.26.

This implies that mothers’ awareness about the nutritional facts is only moderate,

lastly, There is no significant difference between the nutritional awareness of

mothers with children in early childhood and in middle childhood. Hence, the null

hypothesis is accepted.

RECOMMENDATIONS

In the light of the foregoing findings and conclusions of the study, the

researchers recommended the following.

1. That the Brgy. Health workers should educate and give awareness programs to

the mothers on how to give proper nutrition to their children.

2. Local government must be the one who are responsible on giving the right

nutritional needs to the children, they are the one who must lead the different

programs that the health workers give to the children and mothers.

35
3. The members of each families should be aware on the food they intake each

day, they need to secure the right nutritional status of each member for them to

be healthier.

4. The parents are advised to encourage their children to eat green leafy

vegetables and fruits instead of eating junk foods and drinking soft drinks which

contains cocaine and acids. They need to eat foods that rich in vitamins, proteins,

and iron to help them grow healthier. The parents also advised to attend some

programs that the DOH conducted to educate mothers on how to give proper

nutrition to their children.

5. The children are encouraged to eat healthy and nutritious foods like: vegetables

and fruits for them to have a healthy body and for them to prevent sickness that

is caused by malnutrition.

6. Future researchers are encouraged to conduct the same study to other mothers

in another location, other important variables and factors that lead toward better

proposals and for further improvements.

36
 References

Abbi,R.,Christian, P., Gujral,S. and Gopaldas, T.(1991). The impact of maternal

work on the nutrition and health status of children. Food and Nutrition Bulletin,
13(1): 20-24

Akib, S. (2008), Public Health Nutritional Handout. Kampala International

University Western Campus.

Begin, F., Habicht, J.-P.,& dELISLE, H. 1. n. (1997). The deterioration in

children’s nutritional status in rural Chad: The effect of mothers’ influence on
feeding.. American Journal of Public Health, 87(8). 1356-1359.

Gartoulla, R. K. (2009). Nepal Nutrition Assessment and Gap analysis final

report.

Van Itallie TB.,et.al Height-normalised indices of the body's fat-free and fat
mass: potentially useful indicators of nutritional status.

Am J Clin Nutr. 1990; 52: 953-959

Warner JT., Reliability of indices of weight and height in assessment of

nutritional state in children.

Lancet. 2000; 356: 1703-1704

De Onis M, Garza C, Onyango AW, Martorell R, editors. WHO Child Growth

Standards. Acta Paediatrica Suppl 2006;450:1-101.

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De Onis M and Blössner M. The WHO Global Database on Child Growth and
Malnutrition: methodology and applications. International Journal of
Epidemiology 2003;32:518-26

Uzma Iram, Muhammad S. Butt, (2006) "Understanding the health and

nutritional status of children in Pakistan: A study of the interaction of
socioeconomic and environmental factors", International Journal of Social
Economics, Vol. 33 Issue: 2, pp.111-
131, https://doi.org/10.1108/03068290610642210

Peck R, Chuang M, Robbins G, Nichaman M. Nutritional status of Southeast

Asian children. Am J Public Health 1981;71:1144-8.

Hayes E, Talbot S, Matheson E, Pressler H, Hanna A, McCarthy C. Health Status

of Pediatric in Portland, Me. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 1998;Jun, 152 564 - 8.

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38
APPENDICES

39
 APPENDIX A

(Sample Questionnaires)

40
 SURVEY QUESTIONNAIRE

Part I: PROFILE

Name of respondents:

Name of child:

Age of child:

Weight of child:

Part II: Direction: The checklist below will determine your nutritional awareness
on the nutrition of your child. Please rate each statement based on your awareness
by checking the box that corresponds to your chosen answer. We badly need you
kind and consideration and honesty in answering this questionnaire.

3- Very Aware 2- Aware 1- Not Aware

Questions 3 2 1

1. Milk is good for bones and teeth.

2. Meat and fish are foods rich in protein.

3. Sea foods are rich in iodine.

4. Green and leafy vegetables are good source of

fibers.

5. Vitamins are supplementary foods.

6. Serve nutritious foods.

7. Serve fruits and vegetables.

8. Consume 8-10 glasses of water per day.

41
9. Junk foods are not good for the child.

10. Body needs vitamins as source of body

regulatory.

11. Protein and vitamins that are present in GO,

GROW, GLOW foods?

12. Important nutrients that the body needs?

13. Foods that are belong in GO, GLOW, GROW

section?

14. Vitamins that are present in fruits?

15. Benefits of GO, GROW, GLOW foods?

42
 APPENDIX B

(Validation Sheet)

43
 APPENDIX C

(Letter of Permission

44