Division of Responsibility in Child Feeding and Eating Competence: A Cross-Sectional Study in a Sample of Caregivers of Brazilian Children with Celiac Disease

TL;DR

This study explores how Brazilian caregivers of children with celiac disease manage feeding responsibilities and eating habits, and how these relate to diet adherence and eating competence.

Contribution

The study introduces insights into the relationship between eating competence and division of responsibility in feeding among caregivers of children with celiac disease.

Findings

Participants following a gluten-free diet had higher eating competence scores across all domains.

Higher eating competence was linked to family meal frequency and better dietary habits in children.

Scores for division of responsibility in feeding did not differ based on gluten-free diet adherence.

Abstract

The objective of this cross-sectional study was to assess eating competence (EC) and the adherence to the division of responsibility in child feeding (sDOR) of Brazilian caregivers of children with celiac disease (CD). It also examined the association between EC and sDOR, children’s adherence to a gluten-free diet, and sociodemographic data. This study administered a survey set that included sociodemographic data, health-related data, eating habits, and the instruments ecSI2.0TMBR and sDOR.2-6yTM BR, validated for a Brazilian population. The sample comprised 50 caregivers of children with CD (between 24 and 72 months of age). The participants following a gluten-free diet (GFD) presented higher scores for all EC domains and the total EC. The total EC scores were higher for the participants over 40 y/o, frequently having meals as a family, with their children consuming more than three servings of fruit and at least one serving of vegetables daily and complying with a GFD. Different from the EC, the sDOR.2-6yTM scores did not differ between the participants complying with a GFD. The sDOR.2-6yTM mealtime structure domain scores were significantly associated with the EC eating attitude, food acceptance, contextual skills, and total. These findings support the need for greater attention to exploring the division of responsibility in feeding and EC in pediatric celiac disease, potentially enhancing intervention strategies for patients and their families.