Effect of an Integrated Training Program on the Mothers of Children With Eating Problems

A ppropriate nutrition is a major health objective in children’s early years. Eating problems among children as well as low awareness and the unsuitable function of mothers in this regard could result in complications for children and their families.

We aimed to determine the effect of an integrated training on the mothers of 1- to 3-year-old children with eating problems.

This was a two-group quasi-experimental study. In total, 70 mothers of 1 to 3-year-old children with eating problems visiting health centers in Rasht City, Iran, participated in this research. They were selected through a nonrandom sampling method. Then, the samples were assigned into the case and control groups by random block sampling technique. The case group received integrated training. The training sessions were held during three consecutive weeks as two in-person sessions along with presenting an educational CD. Moreover, a virtual session was provided to the study subjects through text messages. The children’s eating problems’ data were recorded using food preference questionnaire (FPQ) measuring eating problems in toddlers (including 5 areas of water satisfaction with eating, mother tension during eating, eating different food types, eating behavior, and food dependence physical signs) before, immediately after, and one month after the intervention by the mothers. Data analysis was performed using descriptive and inferential (t-test, Chi-squared test) statistics.

The achieved results indicated no significant difference in the eating problems of toddlers before the intervention in the case and treatment groups. Such lack of difference was in terms of mothers’ satisfaction with child’s eating, and the child’s eating behavior, stress during the child’s eating, and eating different food types. However, immediately and one month after the training, the t-test and Chi-squared test results indicated improved mothers’ satisfaction with children’s eating (P=0.0001) and reduced stress in mothers during children’s eating (P=0.0001). Nevertheless, in the two areas of eating behavior and eating different food types, no significant differences were observed.

The obtained results suggested that toddlers’ eating problems could be improved by providing integrated training programs to their mothers.