An assessment of nutrition practices and attitudes in family child-care homes: implications for policy implementation

• Published in: Preventing chronic disease Vol. 12; p. E88
• Main Authors: Tovar, Alison, Risica, Patricia, Mena, Noereem, Lawson, Eliza, Ankoma, Angela, Gans, Kim M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 04.06.2015
• Series: Peer Reviewed
• Subjects: Adult; Caregivers - psychology; Caregivers - statistics & numerical data; Chi-Square Distribution; Child; Child Care - legislation & jurisprudence; Child Care - statistics & numerical data; Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; Child, Preschool; Ethnic Groups - psychology; Ethnic Groups - statistics & numerical data; Feasibility Studies; Feeding Behavior - ethnology; Feeding Behavior - psychology; Female; Food Assistance - utilization; Health Behavior; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Health Plan Implementation; Hispanic Americans - psychology; Hispanic Americans - statistics & numerical data; Humans; Information Dissemination; Male; Multivariate Analysis; Nutrition Policy; Nutrition Surveys; Nutritional Sciences - education; Original Research; Parenting - ethnology; Parenting - psychology; Pediatric Obesity - prevention & control; Rhode Island; Social Class; Socioeconomic Factors; Surveys and Questionnaires; Time Factors; Rhode Island
• ISSN: 1545-1151; 1545-1151
• DOI: 10.5888/pcd12.140587

Family child-care homes (FCCHs) provide care and nutrition for millions of US children, including 28% in Rhode Island. New proposed regulations for FCCHs in Rhode Island require competencies and knowledge in nutrition. We explored nutrition-related practices and attitudes of FCCH providers in Rhode Island and assessed whether these differed by provider ethnicity or socioeconomic status of the enrolled children. Of 536 licensed FCCHs in Rhode Island, 105 randomly selected FCCH providers completed a survey about provider nutrition attitudes and practices, demographics of providers, and characteristics of the FCCH, including participation in the federal Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). No differences between CACFP and non-CACFP participants were found; responses were compared by provider ethnicity using χ(2) tests and multivariate models. Nearly 70% of FCCHs reported receiving nutrition training only 0 to 3 times during the past 3 years; however, more than 60% found these trainings to be very helpful. More Hispanic than non-Hispanic providers strongly agreed to sitting with children during meals, encouraging children to finish their plate, and being involved with parents on the topics of healthy eating and weight. These differences persisted in multivariate models. Although some positive practices are in place in Rhode Island FCCHs, there is room for improvement. State licensing requirements provide a foundation for achieving better nutrition environments in FCCHs, but successful implementation is key to translating policies into real changes. FCCH providers need culturally and linguistically appropriate nutrition-related training.