A mothers' perspective on fish and her child's fish consumption in Surakarta, Indonesia

Understanding the factors associated with fish consumption is necessary to determine strategies to improve the fish consumption particularly those high in omega-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 LCPUFA). The aim of this study was to analyse the correlation between a mother's perspective on fish and actual fish consumption in their children.

Two hundred thirty-one elementary school children grade 3-6 and their mothers in Surakarta were recruited using multi stage random sampling for this study. Data was collected in July and August 2017. A validated questionnaire consisted of 3 topics including knowledge related to the health benefits and organoleptic properties of fish and cooking technique-related attitudes on fish were used to measure the mother's response to the fish properties. A validated food frequency questionnaire and a food picture book of fish specifically designed for the survey were developed and used to assess fish consumption of the children. A χ² test was used to analyse the correlation between the mothers' perspective on fish and their children's fish consumption.

The median fish consumption in children was 65 g/d with fried non-oily or lean fish, e.g., milkfish (locally called Bandeng) and catfish (locally called Lele) were consumed more than oily fish as well as processed fish products. Of all children, 31% met the fish consumption recommended by the Environmental Protection Agency-Food and Drug Administration 2017. There was no relationship between a mother's knowledge related to health benefits, organoleptic properties and cooking technique-related attitude toward fish and her child's fish consumption.

The fish consumption of children is not influenced by their mother's perspective on fish. Nutrition education strategies are warranted to improve fish consumption and maintain the optimal benefits by consuming fish, including fish high in n-3 LCPUFA.