Feeding practices, growth status and nutrition-related factors of preschool children living in Tobago

This study focused on the physical growth, feeding practices or behavior, and dietary intake of children aged 12–71.9 months in the island of Tobago, Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. By means of a stratified proportional random sampling method, 466 children and their parents were selected. Dietary data were obtained from a 24-hour recall and a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire and weight, height, triceps skinfold, and mid upper arm circumference of children (N = 466) 12–71.9 months were measured. Underweight, stunting and wasting were defined as weight-for-age, height-for-age, and weight-for-height, respectively, ≤2 z-scores below the median of the NCHS/WHO reference population. Feeding practice/behavior scores were defined as appropriateness, responsiveness and control of parents through force feeding and restriction of food during child feeding. Dietary intake data using 2 assessment methods were analyzed for estimated mean nutrient intakes and compared to the Caribbean RDA. Both methods were also compared for concurrent validity. Among the 466 children, 70% lived homes where parents used appropriate child-feeding behaviors and 53% of the parents used controlling tendencies either by force feeding or restricting foods. Most of the children in the study were taller and heavier than reference-for-age and gender. Prevalence rates of 5.8% underweight, 2.6% stunting, and 11.6% wasting were found with the highest rates at ages 48–71.9 months. Regression analysis showed that income and education had significant effect (p < .05) on appropriate and responsive feeding practices. Feeding practices had no significant effect on growth status. Mean dietary intakes for energy and several nutrients were significantly different (p < .01) from the Caribbean RDA for age and gender. However, intakes of vitamins D and E, and iron and zinc were low. These data suggest that while dietary intakes seemed to be more than adequate for age and gender, due to the prevalence of underweight, stunting, wasting and overweight among this sample signal the need for continuing nutrition surveillance. Nutrition intervention and education programs need to be implemented.