Is maternal nutrition knowledge more strongly associated with the diets of mothers or their school-aged children?
OBJECTIVE
Maternal nutrition knowledge has frequently been identified as an important target for nutrition promotion interventions. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether maternal nutrition knowledge is more strongly associated with the mother's own diet or that of her child.


METHODS
Cross-sectional multivariate linear regression with interactions analyses of survey data.


METHODS
Socio-economically disadvantaged neighbourhoods in Victoria, Australia.


METHODS
Five hundred and twenty-three mothers and their children who participated in the Resilience for Eating and Physical Activity Despite Inequality (READI) study, a cross-sectional survey study conducted in 2009 among women and their children residing in socio-economically disadvantaged neighbourhoods.


RESULTS
In adjusted models, for three (vegetable, chocolate/lollies and soft drink consumption) out of the seven dietary outcomes assessed, there was a significant association between maternal nutrition knowledge and maternal diet, whereas for the children's diets none of the seven outcomes were associated with maternal nutrition knowledge. Statistical comparison of regression coefficients showed no difference between the maternal nutrition knowledge-maternal diet association and the maternal nutrition knowledge-child diet association.


CONCLUSIONS
Promoting maternal nutrition knowledge may represent an important avenue for improving diet in mothers from socio-economically disadvantaged neighbourhoods, but more information is needed on how and when this knowledge is translated to benefits for their children's diet.
Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition Research, School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, 221 Burwood Highway, Burwood, Victoria 3125, Australia. Lauren.Williams@deakin.edu.au
Lauren
L
Williams
Karen
K
Campbell
Gavin
G
Abbott
David
D
Crawford
Kylie
K
Ball
D000328:Adult; D002099:Cacao; D002253:Carbonated Beverages; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet; D002149:Energy Intake; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D005638:Fruit; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D009035:Mothers; D009043:Motor Activity; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014675:Vegetables; D014739:Victoria