Evaluation of interventions towards social environment of a child on nutrition knowledge and habits in a secondary school

Introduction: The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of nutrition education which given to the child, child's parents and teachers with only to the child in the development of positive nutrition behaviors in the secondary school. Methods: Fifth grade students who studied at Cemil Midilli Secondary School in Karabağlar, Izmir were evaluated in this study. It was a intervention study. The study group included 145 secondary school students. The children were separated into two groups as control (n=75) and intervention (n=70). At the start, all of the children were evaluated on their nutrition knowledge and habits. An education on nutrition was given to all classes followed by a "myplate practice" applied the students as group of two. An informative brochure was distributed to and the aim of the study was explained to the parents of intervention group. Messages from the "WhatsApp aplication" were texted to parents every day for three months by the investigator. After these messages, nutrition knowledge level and habits were compared between intervention and control groups. In this study, student's nutrition knowledge score and nutrition habits were dependent variables; being in the control or intervention group was the independent variable. Independent samples t test was used to compare nutrition knowledge level and chi-square test was used to compare nutrition habits of students who were in the intervention and control groups. For the same parameters, groups were evaluated with paired samples t test and Mc Nemar in themselves. Results: The mean nutrition knowledge scores were 72,9 ± 11,4 for the intervention group and 73,4 ± 16,4 for the control group at the beginning (p=0,82). The score was 74,4 ± 14,6 and 73,5 ± 17,1 respectively at the end of the study (p=0,74). There was no a significant difference between the groups' nutrition knowledge scores at the beginning and in the end. At the beginning, bread consumption was higher in the control group (p=0,02) but after the intervention this difference disappeared. In the and, intervention group preferred home (p=0,01) and consumping cereals (p=0,03) for breakfast more than the control group. There were no significant difference found between groups on other nutrition habits and food consumption. Conclusion: Nutrition education was given to the child and their social environment to make positive nutrition habits. In this study, reminders of healthy nutrition advices given to mothers through "WhatsApp" application were not effective in changing the childrens' nutrition knowledge and habits. Face to face education can be more effective to provide healthy nutrition knowledge and habits. Keywords: Nutrition Knowledge Level, Nutrition Habits, Education, WhatsApp