Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2016 Oct;48(9):655-663.e1.
doi: 10.1016/j.jneb.2016.07.016.

Nutrition Education Resources in North Carolina-Based Head Start Preschool Programs: Administrator and Teacher Perceptions of Availability and Use

Sarah Lisson  1 , L Suzanne Goodell  2 , Dipti Dev  3 , Kristi Wilkerson  1 , Archana V Hegde  4 , Virginia C Stage  5
Affiliations

Nutrition Education Resources in North Carolina-Based Head Start Preschool Programs: Administrator and Teacher Perceptions of Availability and Use

Sarah Lisson et al. J Nutr Educ Behav. 2016 Oct.

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this study was to provide new insight into common barriers to the availability and use of nutrition education (NE) resources in Head Start preschool programs based on administrator and teacher perceptions.

Methods: In-depth, semistructured phone interviews (n = 63) were conducted with administrators (n = 31) and teachers (n = 32) from North Carolina-based Head Start programs. Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Data were analyzed qualitatively using content analysis to identify common themes.

Results: Five emergent themes were identified within the areas of NE resource availability and use and barriers to NE resource availability and use. Participants expressed desire for greater organization of existing NE material resources, increased community support, and professional development opportunities for teachers specific to NE. Funding and time constraints were reported as affecting NE resources.

Conclusions and implications: Creative strategies for addressing NE resource availability and use and barriers (eg, NE integration with educational standards) in Head Start are needed.

Keywords: Head Start; administrators; children; nutrition education resources; qualitative; teachers.

PubMed Disclaimer

MeSH terms