Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2022
DOI
10.26719/emhj.22.095
Publication Title
Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal
Volume
28
Issue
12
Pages
904-908
Abstract
Background: Mothers’ perceptions of their children’s weight remain mostly unknown in oil-rich countries of the Middle East.
Aims: To compare maternal perceptions of their children’s weight with actual body weight.
Methods: We used the Kuwait nutritional surveillance data for 5 consecutive years (2015-2019) (N = 5119), which were collected through face-to-face interviews with mothers of children aged 2-5 years attending vaccination centres.
Results: Of the 5119 mothers in the study, 163 (3.18%) and 332 (6.48%) had obese or overweight children, respectively. Among 4624 mothers who had normal weight children, 1350 (29.20%) perceived their children’s weight as below normal. Seventy-nine (48.47%) and 16 (9.82%) mothers of children with obesity thought their children had normal weight or were underweight, respectively.
Conclusion: Mothers in Kuwait often underestimate the weight of their children, including those children who have normal weight. This highlights the importance of addressing maternal misperceptions during visits to the primary healthcare centre.
Rights
Copyright © Authors 2022
EMHJ is an open access journal. This paper is available under the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial ShareAlike 3.0 IGO licence (CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO).
Original Publication Citation
Al-Taiar, A., Alqaoud, N., Sharaf-Alddin, R., & Akpinar-Elci, M. (2022). Mothers' perceptions of their children's weight: Opportunity for health promotion in Kuwait. Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal 28(12), 904-908. https://doi.org/10.26719/emhj.22.095
ORCID
0000-0001-7421-3381 (Al-Taiar), 0000-0001-8094-261X (Akpinar-Elci)
Repository Citation
Al-Taiar, Abdullah; Alqaoud, Nawal; Sharaf-Alddin, Reem; and Akpinar-Elci, Muge, "Mothers' Perceptions of Their Children's Weight: Opportunity for Health Promotion in Kuwait" (2022). Community & Environmental Health Faculty Publications. 159.
https://digitalcommons.odu.edu/commhealth_fac_pubs/159
Included in
Epidemiology Commons, Human and Clinical Nutrition Commons, International Public Health Commons, Maternal and Child Health Commons
Comments
Publisher's landing page available at: https://www.emro.who.int/emhj-volume-28-2022/volume-28-issue-12/mothers-perceptions-of-their-childrens-weight-opportunity-for-health-promotion-in-kuwait.html