Thesis (M.S.)--Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1991. / Vita. Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 101-114). Also available via the Internet.

Typescript (photocopy). / Digitized by Kansas Correctional Industries

Typescript (photocopy). / Digitized by Kansas Correctional Industries

Thesis (M.S. in human nutrition)--Washington State University, December 2009. / Title from PDF title page (viewed on Jan. 8, 2010). "College of Pharmacy." Includes bibliographical references (p. 93-101).

Thesis (M.S.)--Eastern Illinois University, 2001. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 65-72).

This study was conducted to investigate why women participating in the WIC Program chose bottlefeeding rather than breastfeeding. Additionally, this investigator sought to determine the extent of prenatal education provided on the topic of breastfeeding within the health department population versus private care patients. An anonymous survey was administered by WIC nutritionists in the state of Virginia to mothers of newborns who were bottlefeeding. A total of 152 women completed questionnaires which were analyzed. Data were subjected to Chi-square analysis to determine association between demographic variables and specific reasons identified for not choosing to breastfeed. Source and type of prenatal education on the topic of breastfeeding was also examined. The majority of the respondents were black women under age 25 with no more than a high school education. Many of the women were not married and most received prenatal medical care at their local health departments. Results indicated that women attending health department clinics received more prenatal education on the topic of breastfeeding than did those attending private physicians. The main reasons cited for not choosing to breastfeed were related to the perceived inconvenience of breastfeeding. This was especially true for those who had less than a high school education. Younger women appeared to be more concerned that breast size would affect their ability to successfully breastfeed. These same women were also concerned with being able to return to school. White women were more concerned about returning to work than were blacks. Marital status, or living arrangements seemed to be related to fear of embarrassment; married women were less concerned about this than the other groups. It is the hope of this researcher that the information gathered in this study can assist in developing education and intervention programs which may help to increase the incidence of breastfeeding among the WIC Program population. / Master of Science

The diets of 75 two year old children, participating in the Virginia Beach WIC Program, were evaluated twice. They were analyzed using a 24 hour dietary recall (WIC 329), and again using a computer program (Nutritionist I) for RDA. Diets were examined for the nutrients calcium, protein, vitamin A, vitamin C, and iron found in the four food groups on the WIC 329. Each food group and corresponding nutrient was identified with varying degrees of success.The protein and calcium assessment were accurate. Under the conditions of this study, several recommendations can be made. The milk group heading could state that one cup of fluid milk provides 310 IU vitamin A. The vitamin A rich foods yield 6000 IU rather than 4000-5000 IU as indicated on the WIC 329. For vitamin C, only 3/4 serving is required to satisfy the RDA rather than the stated full serving. Iron values could be documented on the WIC 329 for the meat, vitamin A, vitamin C, and bread/cereal group. Iron fortified cereals, supplying at least 45% RDA, could be a separate subgroup to reflect the higher iron content. A truncated regression formula was developed to estimate nutritional status. A ceiling of 150% RDA was used to prevent skewing of nutrients. Use of the regression formula instead of the WIC 329 resulted in a 67% improvement of estimating nutritional status. / Master of Science

Because children eat better when their parents use appropriate feeding practices, this study examined WIC participation and parental knowledge about child feeding practices. A Child Feeding Questionnaire was developed to evaluate parental knowledge about these feeding practices. The questions evaluated parents' knowledge about their responsibilities and the responsibilities of their children in feeding situations, the role of parental modeling when eating, appropriate snack habits, management of dislikes/picky eating, and the use of coercive feeding practices. The directors of four WIC clinics, with clients of differing sociodemographic status, agreed to participate in the study. The questionnaire was tested with and revised following work with clients in two of the four WIC clinics. The questionnaire was then administered to 403 parents during WIC certification visits. Cronbach Alpha reliability measures indicated that the reliability of the instrument was low. Therefore, no real conclusions could be drawn from the results. However, the data analyses did suggest some possible findings that would need additional study to verify their existance. ANOVA measures indicated that increased length of WIC participation was not associated with an increase in the total number of correct responses. Parental responds suggested that the majority of respondents understood the responsibility of parents for deciding what foods to offer (88.3), and when to offer food (71.7 %), the importance of healthy snacks in the diet of children (79.4 %), the need to set a good parental example with eating (92.6 %), and the importance of exposing children to foods that the children dislike (80.1%). However, one-third of the parents did not agree or know that children should be resonsible for deciding how much to eat when foods are being offered. In addition, the majority of parents (68.7 %) indicated that it was acceptable to substitute a food for one that is disliked by children. With respect to the use of coercive feeding strategies to get children to eat, parental responses reflected that many parents (46.7 %) did not feel that the use of rewards to get children to eat was not advisable. Based on the researcher's professional knowledge that WIC staff generally provide only nutrition information related to immediate problems, it was recommended that WIC staff members who provide nutrition education might serve the participants better if the education that they provided was directed at broader nutrition issues that parents face in guiding their children to eat well. Perhaps this education will indirectly alleviate immediate nutritional needs of the individual child and prevent the occurance of other nutrition problems. This would require additional study for verification. / Department of Home Economics

This study was conducted to determine the impact of nutrition edu cation on participants of the Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) and the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP). The specific objectives were to: 1) determine the impact of participation in EFNEP on iron status as assessed by hematocrit (hct) and ferritin levels; 2) determine the effect of nutrition knowledge on hct and ferritin values; and 3) determine the effect dietary behavior has on hct and ferritin levels for both WIC and EFNEP participants. Each study participant completed a 24-hour dietary recall record plus food frequency record, medical history, validated nutrition knowledge test, and finger stick blood sample prior to program enrollment or nutrition education, and again six months later. There were 42 WIC, 26 EFNEP, 23 WIC-control, and 23 EFNEP-control participants. Paired t-tests were used to find differences between preprogram and postprogram evaluation scores for the variables of nutrition knowledge score, hematocrit level, ferritin level, and levels of several nutrients. Nutrition knowledge test scores increased significantly from preprogram to postprogram for both WIC and EFNEP participants (14.2 ± 3.27 to 15.5 ± 2.89 for WIC, 14.2 ± 3.77 to 15.6 ± 2.79 for EFNEP). EFNEP participants also increased significantly in hct levels (38.5% ± 3.78 to 40.7% ± 2.13). Hematocrit levels did not change significantly for the WIC or control groups and nutrition knowledge did not increase for the control group between preprogram and postprogram evaluations. Mean intakes of vitamin A, vitamin c, calcium, and protein were above the RDA at preprogram and postprogram evaluations, yet the percentage of individual participants who consumed less than 67% of the RDA in this study was higher than in the continuing survey of Food Intake of Individuals - 1985. Improvement in nutrient intake at postprogram evaluations was encouraging. Regression analysis indicated that nutrition education classes in college, income level, and level of formal education each had a positive effect on nutrient intake and nutrition knowledge.