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Comparing the nutrition environment and practices of home- and centre-based child-care facilities
Olivia J M Martyniuk1, Leigh M Vanderloo1, Jennifer D Irwin2
11Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences,University of Western Ontario,London,Ontario,Canada.
Insights
Centre-based childcare facilities had slightly better nutrition environments than home-based ones, though both need improvements in food quality and staff training for preschoolers. Further research is recommended to confirm these findings.
Area of Science:
- Child Nutrition
- Early Childhood Education
- Public Health
Background:
- The nutrition environment in childcare settings significantly impacts preschoolers' dietary habits and long-term health.
- Variations exist between centre-based and home-based childcare facilities regarding nutrition practices.
- Assessing and comparing these environments is crucial for developing targeted interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate and contrast the nutrition environment and practices in centre-based versus home-based childcare facilities for preschoolers.
- To identify specific areas for improvement in childcare nutrition settings.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study design was employed, assessing 19 childcare facilities (10 centre-based, 9 home-based) in London, Ontario, Canada.
- The Environment and Policy Assessment and Observation (EPAO) tool was utilized for a full-day observation and review of nutrition environments, practices, and related documents.
- Eight nutrition-related subscales were specifically examined.
Main Results:
- Mean total nutrition environment EPAO scores were 12.3 (SD 1.94) for centre-based and 10.8 (SD 0.78) for home-based facilities (out of 20).
- The difference in total EPAO scores approached statistical significance (P=0.055), suggesting a trend towards better nutrition environments in centre-based care.
- Both facility types scored highest in staff behaviors but lowest in nutrition training and education domains.
Conclusions:
- While centre-based facilities showed a trend towards a more supportive nutrition environment, both types require enhancements.
- Improvements in food/beverage nutritional quality, mandatory nutrition training for staff, and educational curricula for preschoolers are recommended.
- Further research is necessary to validate these findings and inform policy development for optimal child nutrition.
Objective:
To assess and compare the nutrition environment and practices (as they relate to pre-schoolers) of centre- and home-based child-care facilities.
Design:
Using a cross-sectional study design, nineteen child-care facilities (ten centre-based, nine home-based) were assessed for one full day using the Environment and Policy Assessment and Observation (EPAO) tool (consisting of a day-long observation/review of the nutrition environment, practices and related documents). Specifically, eight nutrition-related subscales were considered.
Setting:
Child-care facilities in London, Ontario, Canada.
Subjects:
Child-care facilities were recruited through directors at centre-based programmes and the providers of home-based programmes.
Results:
The mean total nutrition environment EPAO scores for centre- and home-based facilities were 12·3 (sd 1·94) and 10·8 (sd 0·78) out of 20 (where a higher score indicates a more supportive environment with regard to nutrition), respectively. The difference between the total nutrition environment EPAO score for centre- and home-based facilities was approaching significance (P=0·055). For both types of facilities, the highest nutrition subscale score (out of 20) was achieved in the staff behaviours domain (centre mean=17·4; home mean=17·0) and the lowest was in the nutrition training and education domain (centre mean=3·6; home mean=2·0).
Conclusions:
Additional research is needed to confirm these findings. In order to better support child-care staff and enhance the overall nutrition environment in child care, modifications to food practices could be adopted. Specifically, the nutritional quality of foods/beverages provided to pre-schoolers could be improved, nutrition-related training for child-care staff could be provided, and a nutrition curriculum could be created to educate pre-schoolers about healthy food choices.
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