Study of awarencess towards and the Pattern of Milk Consumption in 7-12 year old Elementary School Students in the City of Sari and their Mothers (2005-2006)

Background and Tody, most societies face significant decrease in consuming milk products in children and this process would cause problems in providing the calcium needed by children, particularly since the osteoporosis is definitely connected to a lack of receiving sufficient calcium in children and adolescence age. Therefore, the goal of this study is to study the knowledge and pattern of milk consumption in 7-12 year old children of Sari and their mothers. The research samples consisted 638 male and female student at 7-12 in elementary schools (urban and rural), chosen at random from 16 schools. Necessary data were obtained through separate and different questionnaires on the output of milk consumption and its products through direct interviews. The data of the study were analyzed using t-Test, ANOVA, Duncan follow up, Chi-square and correlation coefficient. In this study, 44% of children and 37.7% of mothers consumed milk and 50.1% of children and 19.4% mothers sometimes consumed milk. 5.5% of children and 19.4% of mothers did not consume milk. Mostly, the reason for non-consuming milk among children and mothers was: not having access to milk (27.9% and 17.7%). The awareness towards the advantages of milk was desirable in 67% children and 48.7% of mothers. It was almost desirable in 21.1% children and 4.5% of mothers and undesirable in 1.4% of children and 1.1% of mothers. The amount of milk consumption for 62% of urban children and 49% of rural children was only one unit, and, in sum, the amount of milk consumption for 59% of boys and 55% of girls was less than the recommended figures. The mean average of criteria deviation in the amount of milk consumption for children showed a significant difference from their educational levels (p=0.001) and insignificant difference from their sex. In addition, the pattern of milk consumption of children had significant relationship with the sex, education level and education of father however, it had significant relationship with the education level of mothers and the jobs of mother and father. Children's knowledge about the advantages of milk had a significant relationship with the education level of mothers, fathers and jobs of mothers (P<0.004) however, it had a insignificant relationship with their sex. In this study, the amount of milk consumption in half of the population subjects of the study was less than the standard recommended amount therefore, to improve children's health status and prevent the destructive effects of osteoporosis in adulthood, there should be necessary actions to increase milk consumption among children.