Exploring Collaborative Efforts Toward Promoting Better Eating Habits among Autistic Children in the United Arab Emirates

Autor: Maxwell Peprah Opoku, Ashraf Mustafa, Noora Anwahi, Haseena Shah, Salma Aldhaheri, Aysha Almeqbaali, Thara Alkateri, Shashidhar Belbase
Rok vydání: 2023
Předmět:
Zdroj: The Linacre Quarterly. :002436392311567
ISSN: 2050-8549
0024-3639
DOI: 10.1177/00243639231156701
Popis: According to the principle of duty of care, adults in the lives of children with disabilities such as autistic children are expected to promote their development. The Nutbeam's health literacy model was adopted to explore the efforts of special education teachers and parents toward promoting better eating habits among autistic children in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Twenty-one participants, comprising fifteen special education teachers and six parents with autistic children, were examined in this study. The results indicated that some special education teachers’ and parents’ limited understanding of unhealthy food might impact the development of autistic children. Furthermore, the findings also highlight the lack of collaboration and communication between teachers regarding the nutrition and healthy living of autistic children. The findings have practical consequences, such as urging UAE health policymakers to provide professional development for special education instructors and parents of autistic children.
Databáze: OpenAIRE