Nutrition knowledge, attitudes, behaviours and the influencing factors among non-parent caregivers of rural left-behind children under 7 years old in China.
OBJECTIVE
To explore and compare nutrition knowledge, attitudes and behaviours (KAB) between non-parent and parent caregivers of children under 7 years old in Chinese rural areas, and to identify the factors influencing their nutrition KAB.


METHODS
Face-to-face interviews were carried out with 1691 non-parent caregivers and 1670 parent caregivers in the selected study areas; multivariate logistic regression models were used to identify the factors influencing nutrition KAB in caregivers.


RESULTS
The awareness rate of nutrition knowledge, the rate of positive attitudes and the rate of optimal behaviours in non-parent caregivers (52.2 %, 56.9 % and 37.7 %, respectively) were significantly lower than in the parent group (63.8 %, 62.1 % and 42.8 %, respectively). Multivariate logistic regression modelling showed that caregivers' family income and care will, and children's age and gender, were associated with caregivers' nutrition KAB after controlling the possible confounding variables (caregivers' age, gender, education and occupation).


CONCLUSIONS
Non-parent caregivers had relatively poor nutrition KAB. Extra efforts and targeted education programmes aimed to improve rural non-parent caregivers' nutrition KAB are wanted and need to be emphasized.
Tan
Cai
C
Department of Women and Children Health, School of Public Health, Central South University, Changsha 410078, People's Republic of China.
Luo
Jiayou
J
Zong
Rong
R
Fu
Chuhui
C
Zhang
Lingli
L
Mou
Jinsong
J
Duan
Danhui
D
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D017028:Caregivers; D002648:Child; D054540:Child, Orphaned; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002681:China; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D052756:Nutritional Sciences; D010290:Parents; D012424:Rural Population; D012737:Sex Factors