Comparison of eating behaviors and mothers' eating attitudes based on visual function levels in children with cerebral visual impairment

Abstract

Background While there are studies evaluating the eating behaviors of children with cerebral palsy (CP) and the eating attitudes of mothers, studies on eating behaviors and mothers' eating attitudes in children with CP with cerebral visual impairment (CVI) according to visual function level are in their infancy. Based on this, the aim of this study was to compare eating behaviors and mothers' eating attitudes according to the level of visual function in children with CP and CVI. Methods A total of 90 children with CP and CVI aged 36-72 months, consisting of 30 level 2, 30 level 3 and 30 level 4 according to the visual function classification system (VFCS) and their mothers participated in the study. Eating behaviors of children with CP and CVI were assessed with the Children's Eating Behavior Questionnaire (CEBQ) and mothers' eating attitudes towards the feeding process of their children were assessed with The Mother's Attitudes Towards the Feeding Process Scale (MAFPS). Results According to the results of the study, statistically significant differences were found among the three groups in all subdomains of the CEBQ-except for the emotional overeating subdomain-and in all subdomains and the total score of the MAFPS (p < 0.001). There was no statistically significant difference between the groups in the emotional overeating sub-field of CEBQ (p = 0.184). In the post hoc analysis, a statistically significant difference was found in all assessment areas except the emotional overeating area in the pairwise comparisons of the groups (p < 0.05). Conclusion In the study in which eating behaviors of children diagnosed with CP and CVI and eating attitudes of mothers were evaluated according to VFCS levels, it was determined that children at level 4 and their mothers exhibited a more negative picture compared to level 3, and children at level 3 and their mothers exhibited a more negative picture compared to level 2. Worsening vision was found to be a factor that negatively affected the eating behaviors of children with CP and CVI and the mothers' attitudes towards eating. The eating behaviors of children with CP and CVI and the eating attitudes of mothers should be included in routine assessments and intervention approaches that include mothers in this process should be planned.