Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Food and Health, cilt.12, sa.1, ss.59-71, 2026 (TRDizin)
This study was conducted to determine the seafood consumption habits of families living in the Çukurova district of Adana province who have children in the preschool period (4–6 years). Face-to-face surveys were administered to the families of children attending different preschool institutions in the region, and data obtained from 301 participants were evaluated. The majority of the participants were mothers aged between 35 and 39 years; in terms of educational status, most were high school and university graduates, and in terms of occupation, homemakers were predominant. Most of the families were in the middle-income group. According to the results, the most common frequency of fish consumption among children was once a week, followed by twice a month and once a month. More than half of the participants stated that they did not give fish to their babies until the age of one. During pregnancy and lactation, fish and fish oil consumption were low. The fish consumption habits of families showed a distribution similar to those of their children. The most preferred cooking method was baking, and the most preferred fish species was seabass, followed by seabream and anchovy. The consumption of freshwater fish was limited. Analyses revealed a significant relationship between the mother’s education level and the frequency of fish consumption of the child, and that the frequency of consumption increased as the income level increased. The data obtained emphasise the importance of educational and informational programs aimed at increasing fish consumption in the early childhood period, covering the 4–6 age range.