Measuring and Predicting Intention of Senegalese Mothers to Provide Iron-Rich Foods to their Children

In Senegal, only 43% of children aged 6-23 months are provided with iron-rich foods (IRF). Assessing determinants of mothers’ behaviour is imperative to improve young children nutrition. We developed a validated questionnaire and used it to assess psychosocial factors of mothers' intention to provide IRF to their children aged 6-23 months in the Matam area, Senegal. Using the planned behaviour theory, the first version of a questionnaire was developed and administered to 120 mothers. Exploratory factorial analyses (EFA) were used to generate a shorter and validated final version of the questionnaire, administered to another sample (N=100) of mothers to assess psychosocial factors underlying their intention to provide IRF to children. EFA revealed the importance of perceived benefits mothers have for the health/welfare of their children if providing them IRF, about acting according to expectations of persons in their surroundings and limited access to IRF due to physical/financial constraints. Attitude (β=0.26, p = 0.015) and subjective norm (β = 0.22, p = 0.047) were positively associated with mothers’ intention to provide IRF to their children. Together with sociodemographic variables, they explained 14% of its variance. Our findings revealed that mothers have a strong intention to provide IRF to their children. Although further assessments of this questionnaire are warranted in other contexts, this tool could provide information on potential determinants of mothers’ intention to provide IRF to children

Iron-Rich Foods Intakes among Urban Senegalese Adolescent Girls

Intake of iron-rich foods was investigated in Senegalese adolescent girls. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 136 girls aged 13 to 18, attending two colleges in Dakar. Data on the consumption of iron-rich foods over the previous week were collected through a food frequency questionnaire. Results show that 12% of the girls had consumed dishes made with iron-rich foods 3 times or less in the past seven days, 34%, 4 to 6 times, and 54%, 7 times and above. However, 83% of the girls had anntake of iron-rich foods below the 84 g per day recommended for animal protein sources by the EAT-Lancet Commission on Healthy Diets from Sustainable Food Systems. The diet of Senegalese adolescent girls seems conducive to iron deficiency. To define effective interventions to improve the situation, investigating underlying factors to the low consumption of iron-rich foods is warranted

Psychosocial factors and intention to use the nutrition care process among dietitians and dietetic interns

Purpose: The theory of planned behaviour was used to explore the factors (i.e., attitude, subjective norm, and perceived behavioural control) affecting the intention of dietetic internship educators, new dietetic graduates, and dietetic interns to use the nutrition care process (NCP) in their clinical practice. Methods: Participants (n=55) were recruited from the Bachelor of Science in Nutrition program at Université Laval. They completed an online quantitative questionnaire assessing their intention to use the NCP in their clinical practice, as well as associated psychosocial factors. Open-ended questions were also used to gain a further understanding of the salient beliefs underlying participants’ intention to use the NCP. Results: Intention to use the NCP in practice and associated psychosocial factors were similar and favourable within the three participant groups. Subjective norm and perceived behavioural control were the psychosocial factors that significantly predicted an intention to use the NCP. The most cited perceived barrier to use of the NCP was a lack of knowledge, while the most cited facilitator was training opportunities. Conclusions: Our results indicate that successful implementation of the NCP will likely require the development of theoretical and practical training activities for both pre-licensure students and experienced dietitians.Objectif : La théorie du comportement planifié a été employée afin d’explorer les facteurs (c.-à-d. attitude, norme subjective et perception de contrôle comportemental) influençant l’intention des chargés d’enseignement clinique en diététique, des nouveaux diplômés en diététique et des stagiaires en diététique d’utiliser le processus de soins en nutrition (PSN) dans leur pratique clinique. Méthodes : Les participants (n = 55) ont été recrutés dans le programme de baccalauréat en nutrition de l’Université Laval. Ils ont rempli un questionnaire quantitatif en ligne évaluant leur intention d’utiliser le PSN dans leur pratique clinique de même que les facteurs psychosociaux associés. Des questions ouvertes ont également été employées afin de mieux comprendre les croyances saillantes sous-jacentes à l’intention des participants d’utiliser le PSN. Résultats : L’intention d’utiliser le PSN dans la pratique ainsi que les facteurs psychosociaux associés étaient similaires et favorables dans les trois groupes de participants. La norme subjective et la perception de contrôle comportemental étaient les facteurs psychosociaux qui permettaient de prédire de façon significative l’intention d’utiliser le PSN. La contrainte perçue à l’utilisation du PSN la plus souvent citée était un manque de connaissances, alors que l’élément facilitateur le plus cité était les occasions de formation. Conclusions : Nos résultats indiquent qu’une implantation réussie du PSN nécessitera probablement la mise au point d’activités de formation théorique et pratique à l’intention des étudiants n’ayant pas encore reçu leur autorisation d’exercer et des diététistes expérimentés

Absorption intestinale des acides aminés chez le porc éveillé : effet de l'ingestion de caséine et de colza

International audienc