Diet and physical activity for children's health: a qualitative study of Nepalese mothers' perceptions.
OBJECTIVE
Non-communicable diseases account for 50% of all deaths in Nepal and 25% result from cardiovascular diseases. Previous studies in Nepal indicate a high burden of behavioural cardiovascular risk factors, suggesting a low level of knowledge, attitude and practice/behaviour regarding cardiovascular health. The behavioural foundation for a healthy lifestyle begins in early childhood, when mothers play a key role in their children's lives. This qualitative study, conducted in a Nepalese peri-urban community, aimed to explore mothers' perception of their children's diet and physical activity.


METHODS
We notated, tape-recorded and transcribed all data collected from six focus group discussions, and used qualitative content analysis for evaluation and interpretation.


METHODS
The study was conducted in the Jhaukhel-Duwakot Health Demographic Surveillance Site in the Bhaktapur district of Nepal.


METHODS
Local health workers helped recruit 61 women with children aged 5-10 years. We distributed participants among six different groups according to educational status.


RESULTS
Although participants understood the importance of healthy food, they misunderstood its composition, perceiving it as unappetising and appropriate only for sick people. Furthermore, participants did not prioritise their children's physical activities. Moreover, mothers believed they had limited control over their children's dietary habits and physical activity. Finally, they opined that health educational programmes would help mothers and recommended various intervention strategies to increase knowledge regarding a healthy lifestyle.


CONCLUSIONS
Our data reveal that mothers of young children in a peri-urban community of Nepal lack adequate and accurate understanding about the impact of a healthy diet and physical activity. Therefore, to prevent future cardiovascular disease and other non-communicable diseases among children, Nepal needs health education programmes to improve mothers' cardiovascular health knowledge, attitude and behaviour.
Department of Community Medicine, Kathmandu Medical College, Kathmandu, Nepal Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Nutrition, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy at University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Natalia
N
Oli
Department of Community Medicine, Kathmandu Medical College, Kathmandu, Nepal.
Abhinav
A
Vaidya
Department of Community Health Sciences, Patan Academy of Health Sciences, Lalitpur, Nepal.
Madhusudan
M
Subedi
Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Gabriele
G
Eiben
Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Nutrition, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy at University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden Department of Biomedicine and Public Health, School of Health and Education, University of Skövde, Skövde, Sweden Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway.
Alexandra
A
Krettek
D000328:Adult; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002648:Child; D000067576:Child Health; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004032:Diet / Q000379:methods*; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D009035:Mothers / Q000193:education*; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D009390:Nepal / Q000453:epidemiology; D010465:Perception; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D015996:Survival Rate / Q000639:trends
NUTRITION & DIETETICS; PUBLIC HEALTH; QUALITATIVE RESEARCH