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Maria Baranowski, PhD student, MSc, RD
Shahin, Shooshtari, PhD

Department of Community Health Sciences
University of Manitoba
Winnipeg, Manitoba

The purpose of my proposed thesis project is to determine the dietary intake and nutritional status of children born with Down syndrome living in Manitoba. I am also interested in exploring their experience receiving nutrition services and learning about what are their preferred ways of receiving nutrition information.

Individuals born with Down syndrome reportedly experience greater prevalence of nutrition-related conditions and diseases throughout their lifespan. However, there is limited health and nutrition research that has included individuals born with Down syndrome to accurately determine what are their nutrition needs and how best to meet those needs to promote their overall health and well-being, and minimize the risk of nutrition-related diseases and conditions. Furthermore, there is currently no data surveillance or monitoring of the nutritional status of individuals born with Down syndrome in Canada. My proposed research project is a first step approach designed to address this knowledge gap.

I am proposing to conduct a cross-sectional mixed methods section with an exploratory descriptive approach. My target study population is school-aged children born with Down syndrome and their caregivers/parents living in Manitoba. I aim to conduct in-person or virtual data collection meetings with study participants to administer a survey with open- and close-ended questions, and conduct a 24 hour dietary recall of the child's intake. Descriptive and inferential statistics will be used to analyze quantitative data. Thematic analysis will be used to analyze qualitative data.

This submission is based on a proposed research project that has not yet been conducted therefore, no results are available at this time.

This submission is based on a proposed research project that has not yet been conducted therefore, no conclusions/recommendations are available at this time. However, the value of conducting inclusive health and nutrition research to produce findings that are relevant, and inform meaningful health and nutritional care and services, to the target study population may be considered a recommendation for future research initiatives.

My proposed research project is important to the field of dietetics because it is an example of inclusive nutrition research that includes individuals that have been historically excluded, inaccurately represented, or undervalued in health and nutrition research. My study also aims to value the lived experience of individuals born with Down syndrome, to better understand what are their needs, and to learn how to provide future meaningful health and nutrition care services, that produce a positive impact on their overall health and well-being.

Maria is the recipient of a University of Manitoba Graduate Fellowship.