PERAN AYAH TERHADAP KONSUMSI SAYUR DAN BUAH PADA ANAK USIA PRASEKOLAH

Background: The low of fruit and vegetable consumption in children occurs in various countries, included Indonesia. One of the factor that affect children�s consumption is the role of parents. Parent�s role, including father�s role, is crucial in the formation of eating habits in preschool children. Unfortunately, there are many parents who assume that children�s consumption is the mother�s responsibility only, so the father�s role is often neglected. Objective: The aim of the research is to identify whether the father�s role, perception and knowledge of preschool children�s fruit and vegetable consumption were associated with preschool children�s fruit and vegetable consumption. Method: This was an observational research with cross-sectional study design. Subjects were fathers of preschool children at My Little School Kindegarten, Khalifah Kindegarten, Dharma Bakti 1 Kindegarten and Primagama Creative Playgroup and Kindegarten which taken using simple random sampling. The data were collected by questionnaire and food frequency questionnaire and were analyzed using univariabel analysis, bivariable analysis with chi-square test. Result: The result of bivariable analysis showed that there were not significant relationship between father�s role and preschool children�s fruit and vegetable consumption (p=0,603). In this study, fathers who supported fruit and vegetable consumption are only 30% of total respondents. Children who consumed fruit and vegetable �1x per day was only 43,3% of total respondents. Variable that had significant relationship with father�s role is father�s perception of father�s role in fruit and vegetable consumption in preschool children. Conclusion: There were not significant relationship between father�s role and preschool children�s fruit and vegetable consumption. Thus the need to increase participation of father in preschool children�s fruit and vegetable consumption