Study of Nutritional Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice among Parents of Young Children in Public and Private Schools in Rural Nepal

Abstract

This study examines the Nutritional Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices (KAP) among parents of young school children in Eastern Nepal, with a specific focus on the impact of school type and gender. A survey conducted among 139 parents of grade 4 to 6 students in Halesi Tuwachung Municipality, Khotang district, examined parental KAP in relation to the type of schooling their children received, and distinguishing between private and public schools. Utilizing guidelines from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), data collection involved home visits and response analysis. A higher proportion of female, 92 out of 139 attributes to the emigration of males, which has resulted in a greater availability of females compared to their male counterparts. Significant variations were found in parental KAP based on the type of schools attended by their children (p < 0.002 for knowledge, p = 0.08 for attitude, and p < 0.01 for practice). Parents of children in private schools exhibited higher scores in knowledge and practice compared to those in public schools. Gender differences persisted, with female parents generally scoring lower in knowledge. The study also revealed a lower nutritional knowledge among females (ß=-1.7, p = 0.06). These findings may hint the socio-economic influences on nutritional KAP disparities and advocate for targeted interventions involving both parents, addressing differences across private and public schools. The study calls for future research with larger sample sizes to provide a more comprehensive understanding of these dynamics, suggesting a focus on gender-specific assessments within nutritional policies or national projects led by the Government of Nepal (GoN).