Nutrition Knowledge and Nutritional Status of Upper Elementary School Children Attending a Rural Type School Lunch Programs

강원도 명주군 농촌형 급식국민학교 고학년 아동의 영양지식 및 영양실태조사

This study was conducted to evaluate the nutritional status and nutrition knowledge of upper elementary school children attending a rural type school lunch programs. The subjects of this study consisted of 186 elementary school students in the 5th and 6th grades. Anthropometric measurements were taken for body weight, hight, sitting height, triceps skinfold thickness, and circumferences of midarm and chest. Dietary intakes of nutrients were assessed by modified 24-hour recall method. Test consisted of multiple-cholic items was used to assess nutrition knowledge of subjects. The results are summerized as follows: 1) The children's average body weight were 34.8kg in and 37.6kg in girls. Their average heights were 140.2cm in boys and 143.9cm in girls. Body weight, height, sitting height, triceps skinfold and body surface area of girls were significantly higher than those of boys(p<0.05). Anthropometric data of children approximated to the Korean standards, but were lower than those of children in Seoul and other rural area. 2) Total daily energy and nutrient intakes were below the RDA's, except for intakes of niacin and ascorbic acid. School lunch provided 30.5% of total energy intake ; 3.13% of carbohydrate intake, 30.3% of protein intake and 32.4% of fat intake. Therefore, school lunch largely contributed to the nutritional balance of these children. 3) The mean scores on the nutrition knowledge test of fifth grade and sixth grade students were 16.8(out of possible 40 points) and 23.5 (out of a possible 50 points), respectively. 4) Score of food habit had positive correlations with intakes of protein, iron and niacin. But score of nutrition knoweldge test showed to be only related to intake of ascorbic acid.