Parent Perceptions of the Rural School's Role in Addressing Childhood Obesity

Abstract

<p>Background: Child obesity in United States is epidemic (Institute of Medicine, 2009). Among children ages 6-11 years obesity prevalence has increased 17.5% in 30 years. Underprivileged, minority children are at most risk (2:5) (Lugwig, 2007). Rural children have comparable trends (Schetzina, et aI., 2009). Consequences of child obesity are expressed in chronic adult diseases (Nihizer, 2007). Economic burden of chronic disease exceeds $120,000 billion (Sharma, 2006). Parents shoulder responsibility their child's health by providing access to routine screenings, availability of nutritious foods, limiting video/screen viewing time, and encouraging active lifestyles (Ludwig, 2007). Schools and teachers also have a stake in child health. There is ambiguity in whether parents favor school assistance in routine screening for child obesity (Murphy & Polivka, 2007). That is, some parents view Body Mass Index (BMI) screening as protective and some view it as a barrier. Rural school nurses experience barriers to BMI screening and need to understand parental perceptions for using BMI as a prevention measure (Stalter, 2010). Exploring parents' perceptions from rural schools may increase understanding how geography is a barrier to BMI screening. Purpose: To gain understanding of parental perceptions of rural school's role in obesity prevention. Specific Aims: 1). Identify parental perceptions regarding causes of obesity and use of BMI screening in a rural school; 2). Identify parental preferences receipt of BMI information in a rural school; and, 3). Identify parental perceptions of the rural school's role in prevention of childhood obesity. Methods: Descriptive and will use survey research design. Instrument: IIParental Perceptions of Body Mass Index and Obesity in School-Age Children" questionnaire will be used (Murphy & Polivka, 2007) Internal reliability and content validity have been established (Cronbach's alpha, r=.80). Sample. Convenience sample, comprised of parents with children in a northwestern rural Ohio elementary school. Procedures: pending WSU-RSP/IRB approval.</p><p>This presentation occurred at the Wright State University Campus-Wide Celebration of Research, Scholarship and Creative Activities on April 16, 2010</p>