Quality of Home Packed School Lunch Among Children Attending Kindergarten School in Jimma Zone, South West Ethiopia, 2026
Effect of Nutrition Education on the Diet Quality of Home Packed School Lunch Among Preschool Children Attending Kindergarten School in Jimma Zone, South West Ethiopia, 2026
Jimma University
840 participants
Jan 1, 2026
INTERVENTIONAL
Conditions
Summary
A balanced diet is critical for preschool aged children; meals must be sufficiently diverse to provide the essential nutrients required for rapid physical and cognitive development. Because dietary habits established in early childhood often persist into adulthood, prioritizing this age group is a cost-effective investment in long-term national health and productivity. However, the National Food Consumption Survey in Ethiopia indicates a significant gap in dietary quality, with only 20% of households across all age groups consuming five or more food groups. Implementing multi-component nutrition interventions is essential, as these strategies significantly influence both the eating habits and dietary preferences of preschool children.
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria2
- Children aged 4-7 years attending kindergarten schools in the selected clusters.
- Parents or caregivers willing to provide written informed consent.
Exclusion Criteria2
- Students who will not finish the school year/intervention semister in the selected cluster/school.
- Mothers/caregivers who will not give consent for the participation in the study will be excluded.
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Interventions
Parent-Focused Component: The intervention group will receive weekly nutrition education delivered through a multi-modal approach involving mHealth (Telegram) and printed materials. Educational content is derived from the Ethiopian Food-Based Dietary Guidelines and evidence-based literature, culturally tailored to the local context. Printed leaflets will be provided in both Amharic and Afan Oromo and will incorporate pictorial aids to ensure accessibility for parents and caregivers with limited literacy levels. Child-Focused Component: Simultaneously, students will participate in bi-weekly nutrition education sessions led by trained nutritionists or health professionals. These sessions are designed based on WHO age-appropriate nutrition education recommendations and will be conducted throughout the duration of the intervention period.
Locations(1)
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NCT07506772