Knowledge, behaviors, and beliefs of nannies regarding nutrition for children in their care

• Main Author: Garza, Melody
• Format: Others
• Published: FIU Digital Commons 2010
• Subjects: Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition; Medicine and Health Sciences
• Online Access: https://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/etd/3590; https://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=4999&context=etd

Nannies impact the development of children; however, research is nonexistent regarding their influence on children’s eating habits. The purpose of this study was to examine nannies’ nutrition knowledge, feeding behaviors, and beliefs about children and eating. In a descriptive, cross-sectional study, 83 nannies responded to an electronic survey. Respondents were White (94%, n=78), females (100%, n=83) and full-time employees (73.2%, n=60) of one family (82.1%, n=64). Nannies’ mean raw score was 24 out of 32 points resulting In 75% correct in nutrition knowledge. No significant correlations were found between scores and age (p=.51), education (/?=.73), or employment years (/?=.47). Responses to interaction statements indicated more authoritarian (35.8%, n=24) and indulgent (32.8%, n=22) feeding styles towards children than authoritative (14.9%, n=10) or uninvolved (16.4%, n=ll). Nannies believed that parents/guardians (66%, n=45) had the greatest influence on children’s eating habits, however, perceived they had high influence (79.4%, n=54). Although nannies exhibited average nutrition knowledge, their authoritarian and indulgent feeding styles may result in poor nutritional habits for the children. While it is important for nannies to attend nutrition education sessions, it is vital for nannies to obtain knowledge on how the various feeding styles affect a child’s nutrition. ­