Parents' perceived risks and benefits on avoidance of street food near schools in Indonesia: Moderating role of school type

Abstract

This study identified the influence of parents' perceived risks and benefits on children's avoidance of street food near schools in Indonesia. It also assessed how food risk knowledge and trust in food sellers influence risk—benefit perceptions and the moderating effect of school type. An online survey was conducted with 576 parents of elementary schoolchildren in Jakarta and West Java, and structural equation modeling was performed to test the hypotheses. The results showed that parents' avoidance of street food near schools was significantly influenced by parents' health and sanitation risk perception and nutritional benefit perception. Parents' perceived health and sanitation risk and food risk in street food near schools increased as they gained more food risk knowledge. However, trust in food sellers decreased their perception of risks. Multiple group analysis revealed a moderating effect of school type. Some of the influences were observed only in the parents from public school. The findings suggest that government regulations, school‐based nutrition education, and parental support are needed to ensure safe and nutritious street food near schools; thus, schoolchildren can access safe, healthy, and nutritious foods.