Health Promotion Practices in Hospital: Examination of Nutrition Conditions of the Ill Children

BACKGROUND: In this study, it was aimed to compare nutrition condition of children before and after the hospitalization, and to examine changes that hospitalization created on nutrition of children and its causes. METHODS: In this descriptive research, 32 children that hospitalized more than three days in various clinics of Gulhane Military Medical Academy and their families were studied. Data were obtained with questionnaire and also measurements of weight and height of children. RESULTS: In this study, it was determined that daily food intake of 78.1% of the children was decreased after hospitalization, decreases of daily food intake mostly occurred in children who hospitalized for 3-7 days. Daily food intake, especially cereal, vegetable and fruits groups were decreased in comparison to home intake. It was determined that anthropometric values weren t affected by changes of nutritional routine. 93.8% of mothers stated primarily that inadequate arrangements of the nutritional environment have negative effect on children s nutrition. It was determined that 59.4% of mothers focused on their child to finish his/her meal ruling out demands of the child, forced children to eat and used rewarding mostly to encourage child to eat while in hospital. CONCLUSION: It is concluded that children s hospitalization effects the nutrition conditions negatively and the parents tend to use force or prizes to encourage child to eat. [TAF Prev Med Bull. 2008; 7(4): 323-332]