الفهرس 
I- Nutritional Requirements and Recommendations for preschool childrenOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
The present study was carried out in Badr city in El-Behera governorate. Subjects included 500 preschool children with age between 2 and 5 years. They were selected among those attending Maternal and Child Health Center in the period from May, 2007 to December 2007. Each child was subjected to full history taking laying stress on: age, sex, residence, father’s education and occupation, mother’s education and occupation and family income. History of medical diseases including GI troubles, parasitic infestation, and food allergy. Assessment of feeding and feeding disorders using an adapted Arabic translation of ”Feeding Day Treatment Program Family Questionnaire” Mt. Washington Pediatric Hospital, Inc. Each child was subjected to 24 hours dietary recall.
Anthropometric measurements were assessed especially weight for age, height for age, occipitofrontal circumference, mid arm circumference, skin fold thickness.
The present study included nearly an equal numbers of females (261) and males (239) preschool children. Most children had an average social class (71.00%). Most of fathers and mothers had high educational levels (53.40% and 33.40% respectively). Most of fathers were governmental employees and professionals (26.00% and 26.40% respectively) and most of mothers were housewives (52.40%).
The present study showed that most of studied children received mixed feeding (76.20%) during the first 6 months of life, then exclusive breast feeding (15.00%). Most children had appropriate weaning at the age of (4-6) months (64.40%).
The present study revealed that about half of mothers of studied children have no concern about feeding of their children.
Vomiting was the most frequent GI trouble (19.40%) followed by chocking, constipation, gagging then diarrhea.
History of parasitic infestation was present in 22.00% of the studied children especially entrobiasis (8.60%) then ascariasis (8.40%). The least frequent was ankylostomiasis (0.60%).
History of food allergy was reported by 19.00% of mothers of the studied children. The most frequent allergen encountered ware chocolate, strawberry, mango, milk, egg and the least common allergen was banana.
The present study revealed that the most frequent source of dietary animal protein was milk, eggs, meat, and the least type of animal protein consumed was fish. Fruits and vegetables were always consumed by 36.6% and frequently consumed by 58.20% of the studied children.
The present study revealed that mean dietary intakes as percentage of Required Dietary Allowance were 154% in protein, 86% in iron, 74% in calories and 16% in vitamin D.
The present study revealed that feeding problems were present among most of studied children (63.20%) with male sex predominance (64.00%) compared to female (62.00%). The most common problems present among the studied children were picky eating, playing with food, not chewing, eating slow, turning away from spoon and pushing food away. Less common feeding problems were spiting food out, eating little, dropping food, drooling, eating much, refusing to swallow, eating fast and refusing to open mouth. Then the least common feeding problems were finicky eating, crying, ruminating, messy eating, pica and taking food from others.
The current study revealed that most common techniques used by mothers to help children to eat were to offer reward, use T.V, praise and use toys. Less common techniques were to limit food, ignore, coax and threat. Then the least common techniques were using mini-meals, changing meal schedule, forcing food and spanking.
There was a significantly higher frequency of feeding problems among children whose mother’s concern about their feeding is small and a significantly higher frequency of feeding problems among children with constipation as compared with those without constipation.
The present study revealed higher frequency of feeding problems among children who had history of parasitic infestations specially ascariasis and entrobiasis, however this frequency didn’t reach the significant level.
The present study revealed a significantly lower frequency of feeding problems among children who received absolute breast feeding in the first 6 months when compared to those who received mixed feeding or artificial feeding and a significantly lower frequency of feeding problems among children with appropriate age of weaning (4 to 6 months) when compared to early weaning (<4 m), and delayed weaning (>6 m).
The present study revealed higher frequency of feeding problems among children with below average social class when compared to average and above average, however this frequency didn’t reach the significant level.
The present study revealed a non significantly higher frequency of feeding problems among children whose mothers are moderately and highly educated and a significantly higher frequency of feeding problems among children whose mothers were workers and less common among children whose mothers were non workers (housewives).
There was a non significant relation between feeding problems in children and the family size and a higher frequency of feeding problems among children with lower mean of percentage of total caloric intake.
The present study revealed a significantly higher frequency of feeding problems with techniques used by mothers to help their children to eat as forcing food, coaxing, threatening, sending to room, mini-meals and spanking
The present study revealed a significantly higher frequency of feeding problems among children with body mass index <5th percentile when compared to children with body mass index between 5-50th percentile and children >95th percentile and less common in children with body mass index between 50-95th percentile.
There was a significantly higher frequency of feeding problems among children with mid arm circumference <12.5 when compared to children with mid arm circumference between 12.5 – 13.5 and children with mid arm circumference >13.5.
The present study revealed a highly significant positive correlation between caloric intake and percentage of weight for age, percentage of weight for height, mid arm circumference and skin fold thickness.
The present study revealed that underweight (weight below the 5th centile for age) was present in 7.4% of studied children, stunting (height below the 5th centile for age) was present in 7.6% of studied children, and wasting (weight below the 5th centile of weight for height) was present in 10.6% of studied children. Both wasting and stunting were present in (1.2%) of studied children.