Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #121203

Jayna Dave, MSPH, Deparment of Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior, Norman J. Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Health Sciences Building, Columbia, SC 29208, 803-544-0362, davej@mailbox.sc.edu, Alexandra Evans, PhD, MPH, Norman J. Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Department of Health Promotion and Education, Health Sciences Building, Columbia, SC 29208, Marge Condrasky, PhD, Department of Food Science & Human Nutrition, Clemson University, Poole Ag. Center, Clemson, SC 29634, Sonya Duhe, PhD, School of Journalism and Mass Communication, University of South Carolina, Carolina Coliseum, Columbia, SC 29208, Andrea Tanner, PhD, School of Journalism and Mass Communications, University of South Carolina, Carolina Coliseum, Columbia, SC 29208, and Dawn Wilson, PhD, Department of Psychology, University of South Carolina, Barnwell College, Columbia, SC 29208.

The purpose of this study was to examine effects of a child-developed media campaign intervention on availability of fruit and vegetables (FV), parental support, and on increasing FV consumption with perceived parental support for this dietary change in children. Students from two elementary schools were recruited to participate in the after-school study. 16 students from intervention school participated in 12 sessions on nutrition, media literacy, media skills, developed a media campaign, and attended 2 Family Nights with their parents. 18 children at control school attended 2 Family Nights with their parents. 24-hour recalls and measures of perceived parental social support, self efficacy, and motivation were assessed at baseline and post-intervention for the children. 13 parents at intervention school and 15 parents at control school completed baseline and posttest measures of parental social support, motivation, and FV availability. Effects of the intervention were evaluated both quantitatively and qualitatively. Although significant increases in FV consumption was not seen, a positive significant change was observed on scale measuring motivation (p<.05) in intervention group. Parents in intervention group scored significantly higher on scales measuring FV availability (p<.05) and instrumental social support (p<.05). Focus group showed an increased awareness among children and parents on importance of increased FV consumption. The media intervention was effective in changing participants' motivation for making healthy dietary changes, and in changing home environment. Interventions improving home environment and parental social support are necessary for sustainable lifestyle and healthy dietary changes in children.

Learning Objectives: By the end of the session, participants will be able to

• assess the current trend of fruit and vegetable consumption among children.
• imbibe the idea of developing media-campaigns into their projects.

Keywords: Children,

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.