Children's Food Intake and Nutrition Levels, and Obesity by Maternal Employment: Based on the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2013–2015
10.5720/kjcn.2019.24.4.331
- Author:
Geunyeong KANG
1
;
Yoonna LEE
;
Mihyang UM
;
Seunghee KYE
Author Information
1. Seongnam Center for Children's Foodservice Management, Seongnam, Korea, Planning and Operation Team leader.
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
National Health and Nutrition Survey;
working mothers;
children;
nutritional status
- MeSH:
Breakfast;
Calcium;
Child;
Diet;
Eating;
Employment;
Family Characteristics;
Female;
Humans;
Iron;
Korea;
Meals;
Mothers;
Nutrition Policy;
Nutrition Surveys;
Nutritional Status;
Obesity;
Recommended Dietary Allowances;
Vitamin A
- From:Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
2019;24(4):331-342
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVES: This study examines the intake of food and nutrients of children according to the employment and working hours of their mothers. METHODS: The married women in the source data from the 6th National Health and Nutrition Survey were classified into full-time working mothers, part-time working mothers and housewives according to the working type and the data on their children from 3 to 18 years old were analyzed using SAS 9.4. RESULTS: The group from 3 to 5 years old was the smallest group with 682 children (20.2%), followed by the group from 6 to 11 years with 1,345 children (39.8%) and the group from 12 to 18 years old with 1,355 children (40.1%). The lowest rates for having no breakfast and dinner were observed in the group with housewives (p<0.05). The calcium and phosphorous intakes were the highest in the group with housewives at 61.9% and 126.8%, respectively, and the lowest in the group with full-time working mothers at 54.7% and 115.3%, respectively (p<0.05). The group with full-time working mothers had the highest rate in the calcium and iron intake less than the dietary reference intake at 74.9% and 30.0%, respectively. It indicated that the group with full-time working mothers did not have sufficient nutrients as compared to the other two groups. Moreover, the group with the part-time working mothers showed the high vitamin A intake ratio of 41.4% (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This study found evidence of a negative association between mother's employment status and children's diet quality. The employment and economic activity of married women will continuously increase in the future. Therefore, a national nutrition policy is required to provide quality nutrition care for children in the households.
