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NUTRITIONAL STATUS, DIETARY BEHAVIORS AND PRACTICES AMONG MALAY CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS WITH AUTISM IN SELECTED EDUCATION CENTRES
You Yee Xing1, Amirah A Rahim1, Dalila A Talib1, Nur Hana Hamid1 and Zahara Abdul Manaf1
1Dietetic Programme, School of Healthcare Sciences, Faculty of Health Science, National Univesity of Malaysia
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: This is a cross sectional study using combination of quantitative and qualitative methods. A total of 20 children and adolescents (aged 7-18) with their carers from selected education centres in Bangi and Nilai recruited in this study using total sampling method. Dietary assessment questionnaires were distributed to carers to assess dietary behaviours and face-face interviews were conducted to identify dietary practices.
RESULTS: About half of participants were underweight(10.5%) and overweight(37%). Majority participants (84.2%) had problems of trying new food, not eating vegetables (73.7%) and spend more time(>20mintues) to finish a meal (63.2%). Carers had implemented special dietary practices such as giving sunnah food (52.6%), omega-3 supplements (36.8%), sunnah food products (36.8%), multivitamin supplements (31.6%) and homeopathy products (15.8%) to their children. Normally, carers received the dietary practices information from autism support group (18.2%), internet (16.1%) and scientific-based reference such as journals and articles (12.9%).
CONCLUSION: More than half participants experienced nutritional issues. Information related to healthy eating practices should be provided to carers by dietitians.
Keywords- Autism, dietary behaviours, practices
No. Of words= 214 words without keywords, including titles& list of authors.