Comparing the nutrition environment and practices of home- and centre-based child-care facilities.
OBJECTIVE
To assess and compare the nutrition environment and practices (as they relate to pre-schoolers) of centre- and home-based child-care facilities.


DESIGN
Using a cross-sectional study design, nineteen child-care facilities (ten centre-based, nine home-based) were assessed for one full day using the Environment and Policy Assessment and Observation (EPAO) tool (consisting of a day-long observation/review of the nutrition environment, practices and related documents). Specifically, eight nutrition-related subscales were considered.


SETTING
Child-care facilities in London, Ontario, Canada.


SUBJECTS
Child-care facilities were recruited through directors at centre-based programmes and the providers of home-based programmes.


RESULTS
The mean total nutrition environment EPAO scores for centre- and home-based facilities were 12·3 (sd 1·94) and 10·8 (sd 0·78) out of 20 (where a higher score indicates a more supportive environment with regard to nutrition), respectively. The difference between the total nutrition environment EPAO score for centre- and home-based facilities was approaching significance (P=0·055). For both types of facilities, the highest nutrition subscale score (out of 20) was achieved in the staff behaviours domain (centre mean=17·4; home mean=17·0) and the lowest was in the nutrition training and education domain (centre mean=3·6; home mean=2·0).


CONCLUSIONS
Additional research is needed to confirm these findings. In order to better support child-care staff and enhance the overall nutrition environment in child care, modifications to food practices could be adopted. Specifically, the nutritional quality of foods/beverages provided to pre-schoolers could be improved, nutrition-related training for child-care staff could be provided, and a nutrition curriculum could be created to educate pre-schoolers about healthy food choices.
['Martyniuk|Olivia J M|OJ|', 'Vanderloo|Leigh M|LM|', 'Irwin|Jennifer D|JD|', 'Burke|Shauna M|SM|', 'Tucker|Patricia|P|']
D017028:Caregivers D002654:Child Care D002656:Child Day Care Centers D002675:Child, Preschool D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies D004032:Diet D004777:Environment D005247:Feeding Behavior D005522:Food Services D006266:Health Education D006801:Humans D009753:Nutritive Value D009864:Ontario
Nutrition Child-care environment Child-care staff practices Pre-school children