Aim To investigate the frequency of consumption of sweet and salty snacks among children aged 2-18 years in relation to their mothers’ education level. Methods A descriptive epidemiological study was conducted in five dental practices at the School of Medicine of the University of Mostar from May to October 2022. The data were collected from medical records. Results Out of a total of 477 children, 172 (36.1%) had mothers with a high school education, while 305 (63.9%) had mothers with a university degree. In the group of preschool children (aged 2-6 years), there were 42 mothers with high school education and 105 with university degree. In the group of school children (age 7-18 years) there were 130 mothers with high school education and 200 with university degree. The difference in the consumption of sweetened beverages among children of mothers with high school and university was not statistically significant. Similar results were found for the consumption of salty snacks, lollipops, caramels and candies. The frequency of the consumption of biscuits, chocolate and cakes (several times a day) was statistically significantly higher among the children of mothers with high school education (p=0.04), especially among school children. Eating habits of children, regardless of the level of education of their mothers, differed significantly only in the consumption of lollipops, caramels, and candies (p=0.03), which were consumed once a day by 79 (63.7%) schoolchildren and 45 (36.3%) of pre-schoolers. Conclusion A higher level of education among mothers does not necessarily equate to proper nutritional knowledge.
Cosmi V, S S, C A. Early taste experiences and later food choices. Nutrients 2017;9;(107).
4
Cainelli EC, Gondinho BVC, Palacio DDC, Oliveira DB, Reis RA, Cortellazzi KL, et al. Ultraprocessed foods consumption among children and associated socioeconomic and demographic factors. Einstein (Sao Paulo 2021;19:eAO5554.
5
Genovesi S, Giussani M, Orlando A, Orgiu F, Parati G. Salt and sugar: two enemies of healthy blood pressure in children. Nutrients 2021;13;(697).
6
Organization WH. Guideline: sugars intake for adults and children 2023.
7
Tian N, Zhang Z, Loustalot F, Yang Q, Cogswell ME. Sodium and potassium intakes among US infants and preschool children, 2003-2010. Am J Clin Nutr 2013;98:1113–22.
8
Campanozzi A, Avallone S, Barbato A, Iacone R, Russo O, Filippo G, et al. MINISALGIRCSI Program Study Group. High sodium and low potassium intake among Italian children: relationship with age, body mass and blood pressure. PLoS One 2015;10:e0121183.
9
C.M. B-S, Ferranti S.D. C. The use of nonnutritive sweeteners in children. Pediatrics 2019;144.
10
Kurspahić-Mujčić A, Mujčić A. Factors associated with overweight and obesity in preschool children. Med Glas (Zenica 2020;17:538–43.
11
Lošić D, Čačić Kenjerić D. Does knowledge influence our diet? Dietary habits of adolescents enrolled in general profile and catering school programme. Hrana u Zdravlju i Bolesti 2015;4:98–104.
12
Kukić E, Karakaš S, Paklarčić M. Differences in eating habits among students aged 15-18 years in relation to sex in the area of municipality Travnik. Hrana u Zdravlju i Bolesti 2016;5:6–14.
13
Pogodina A, Rychkova L, Kravtzova O, Klimkina J, Kosovtzeva A. Cardiometabolic risk factors and health-related quality of life in adolescents with obesity. Child Obes 2017;13:499–506.
14
Mesihović-Dinarević S. Cardiovascular Diseases and Oral Health – the Impact of Pregnant Women’s Oral Health on Children’s Cardiovascular Health. 2022.
15
Zukanović A, Dinarevic S, Bajric E, Jurišić S, Musa-Trolić I, Ćubela M, et al. Caries prevalence in children from the Mostar city area. Stomatološki Vjesnik 2022;11:12–8.
16
TNN TH, WY P, LA S, NA B, RD V, R S. Oral diseases and quality of life between obese and normal weight adolescents: A two-year observational study. Children (Basel 2021;8;(435).
17
Correa T, Fierro C, Reyes M, Dillman Carpentier FR, Taillie LS, Corvalan C. Responses to the Chilean law of food labeling and advertising: exploring knowledge, perceptions and behaviors of mothers of young children. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act 2019;16;(21).
18
Hallström L, Vereecken CA, Labayen I, Ruiz LD, C G, MC G, et al. Breakfast habits among European adolescents and their association with sociodemographic factors: the HELENA (Healthy Lifestyle in Europe by Nutrition in Adolescence) study. Public Health Nutr 2012;15:1879–89.
19
Non AL, Román JC, Gross CL, Gilman SE, Loucks EB, Buka SL, et al. Early childhood social disadvantage is associated with poor health behaviours in adulthood. Ann Hum Biol 2016;43:144–53.
20
Vandeweghe L, Moens E, Braet C, Lippevelde W, Vervoort L, Verbeken S. Perceived effective and feasible strategies to promote healthy eating in young children: focus groups with parents, family child care providers and daycare assistants. BMC Public Health 2016;16;(1045).
21
Meixner L, Cohrdes C, Schienkiewitz A, Mensink GBM. Health-related quality of life in children and adolescents with overweight and obesity: results from the German KIGGS survey. BMC Public Health 2020;20;(1722).
22
Zukanovic A, Nakas E, Markovic N, Arslanagic A. Socioeconomic condition and dietary habits in relation to oral health in 12-year-old children from Sarajevo, Bosnia-Hercegovina. SEJODR 2018;5:22–5.
23
Parikka S, Martelin T, Karvonen S, Levälahti E, Kestilä L, Laatikainen T. Early childhood family background predicts meal frequency behaviour in children: five-year follow-up study. Scand J Public Health 2022;50:1199–207.
24
Tariqujjaman M, Hasan MM, Mahfuz M, Hossain M, Ahmed T. Association between mother’s education and infant and young child feeding practices in South Asia. Nutrients 2022;14;(1514).
25
Fadare O, Amare M, Mavrotas G, Akerele D, Ogunniyi A. Mother’s nutrition-related knowledge and child nutrition outcomes: Empirical evidence from Nigeria. PLoS One 2019;14:e0212775.
26
Ansem WJ, CT S, G R, Mheen D. Maternal educational level and children’s healthy eating behaviour: role of the home food environment (cross-sectional results from the INPACT study. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act 2014;11;(113).
27
Pediatric Dentistry AA. Policy on Dietary Recommendations for Infants, Children, and Adolescents. The Reference Manual of Pediatric Dentistry. 2022.
28
Alderman H, Headey DD. How important is parental education for child nutrition? World Dev 2017;94:448–64.
29
Arora A, Chew L, Kang K, Tang L, Estai M, Thepsourinthone J, et al. Diet, nutrition, and oral health: what influences mother’s decisions on what to feed their young children? Int J Environ Res Public Health 2021;18;(8159).
30
Cooke L, Fildes A. The impact of flavour exposure in utero and during milk feeding on food acceptance at weaning and beyond. Appetite 2011;57:808–11.
31
Harris G, Mason S. Are There Sensitive Periods for food acceptance in infancy? Curr Nutr Rep 2017;6:190–6.
32
Haddad L, Achadi E, Bendech MA, Ahuja A, Bhatia K, Bhutta Z, et al. n.d.
33
Malik VS, Hu FB. The role of sugar-sweetened beverages in the global epidemics of obesity and chronic diseases. Nat Rev Endocrinol 2022;18:205–18.
34
Coric N, Tambic A, Vujevic L, Knezovic Z, Juric A. Dietary habits of high school population in Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina. JHED 2021;37:25–36.
The statements, opinions and data contained in the journal are solely those of the individual authors and contributors and not of the publisher and the editor(s). We stay neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
,
