Abstract:

Purpose: The aim of this study is to evaluate the attitudes of mothers with pre-school children towards child nutrition and to determine the relationship between these attitudes of mothers and the children's body mass index (BMI). Methods: This descriptive study was conducted with mothers of children aged 4-6 years in kindergartens. The data were collected by using the Mother Descriptive Characteristics Form, Child Descriptive Characteristics Form" and " Mother’s Attitudes Towards the Feeding Process Scale (MATFPS). BMI (kg/m2) of all children was determined. Results: In the study, MATFPS total mean score of mothers with pre-school children was 60.09±17.60, and mothers' attitudes towards the feeding process were at a good level. MATFPS mean score of mothers of children with a birth weight of 1000-2000 grams was statistically significantly higher than those with a birth weight of 2001-3000, 3001-4000 and 4001-5000 grams (p<0.01). According to the BMI of the children of the mothers participating in the study, 19.4% were underweight, 10.0% were at underweight risk, 47.6% were healthy, 10.5% were slightly obese, and 12.0% were obese; the difference between the mean scores of the mothers and the BMIs of the children is highly significant (p<0.001). Conclusion: Mothers' attitudes towards the feeding process are at a good level. However, the low birth weight causes the negative attitudes in mothers towards the feeding process. Again, BMI which is an indicator of growth and development in children, negatively affects maternal attitudes in the feeding process. Pediatric nurses can provide counseling to mothers in order to develop positive attitudes.

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