A Study on the Necessity for Hygiene Education for Children at the Gyeongbuk Community Children Center

The purpose of this research was to provide basic educational data on the proper eating habits of children who use the community children center. The results of the research conducted by polling the fourth, fifth, and sixth-grade children of the community children centers are summarized as follows. Male children had more meals and ate them faster than those of female children, and they also tended to watch more TV and read books. Moreover, children of families headed by fathers ate until they were full, whereas children of households headed by mothers ate less. More female than male children skipped breakfast, and the percentage of children who had their meals alone was high among children reared by their grandfathers. Most of the children ate only what they liked. Moreover, male children ate only particular fruits and vegetables, whereas female children ate only beans and miscellaneous cereals. Most of the children recognized that they had eating problems, such as eating only what they liked and eating meals on irregular schedules. Such eating habits were affected mainly by family members such as parents, brothers, and sisters. Female children scored higher than male children in terms of nutrition and hygiene knowledge. Approximately 40~50.3% of all subjects became interested in nutrition and hygiene education at the community children center. Most of the children recognized that nutrition and hygiene education is necessary at the community children center. They also recognized their own eating problems and wanted nutrition and hygiene education to be taught at the community children center. Accordingly, regular educational activities and meals for children in the community children center considered a children's particular home background to improve eating habits in the children.