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Topical Area: Community and Public Health Nutrition

Community and Public Health Nutrition (Poster Session)

(P24-037-23) Feeding Styles of Caregivers of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder in Candaba and San Luis, Pampanga, Philippines

Monday, July 24, 2023
11:45 AM – 12:45 PM ET
Location: Poster Board 448

    Presenting Author(s)

  • AD

    Aileen De Juras, PhD

    Assistant Professor
    Institute of Human Nutrition and Food, University of the Philippines Los Banos, Philippines
    LOS BANOS, Laguna, Philippines

    • Co-Author(s)

  • MS

    Maria Daniela V. Sagum

    Institute of Human Nutrition and Food, College of Human Ecology, University of the Philippines Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines

  • AO

    Anna Teresa O. Orillo

    Department of Psychology, College of Social Sciences and Philosophy, University of the Philippines Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines

Disclosure(s):
Aileen De Juras, PhD: No relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.


Objectives: Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) commonly experience feeding difficulties that negatively impact their nutritional states. Moreover, these children depend on their caregivers due to the late development of their self-care skills. Hence, feeding children with ASD necessitates consideration of nutritional requirements along with the caregiver’s styles in feeding. This study investigated the feeding styles of caregivers of children with ASD and the factors affecting child feeding in Candaba and San Luis, Pampanga, Philippines.

Methods: The qualitative research design using the phenomenological approach was employed in this study. A purposive sampling procedure was used to identify the participants. Semi-structured questionnaires were utilized to gather the caregivers’ accounts which were then subjected to thematic analysis.

Results: Eleven participants from Candaba and San Luis shared their narratives on feeding the children with ASD. From the collected data, three themes were identified namely: (1) Children’s characteristics during feeding, (2) Parenting style, and (3) Caregivers’ experiences and perception on child feeding. Study findings showed that 63.6% of the caregivers practiced the indulgent feeding style because of strict preference, high food selectivity or mealtime behaviors. Both authoritarian and authoritative feeding styles were practiced by 18.2% of the participants. Indulgent feeding of children with ASD stemmed from the prioritization of caregivers on food intake rather than the nutritional content or variation of the meals. Furthermore, results revealed that the children’s characteristics during feeding, mainly feeding issues, greatly contributed to the feeding styles of the caregivers. Dry foods labeled as “crunchy” were the most preferred food item by children with high food selectivity. Age of the child did not affect the feeding styles. Caregiving children with ASD was mostly influenced by the caregivers’ employment status.

Conclusions: From the narratives and themes developed, feeding styles for children with ASD were largely influenced by the children’s characteristics rather than the caregivers. Nutritional care for children with ASD should be more behavioral in approach and messages should be tailored in redirecting their eating habits.

Funding Sources: This research received no external funding.