Determinant Factors Affecting the Nutritional Status of Children in Regional Health Center of Gresik

Abstract

Preschool children are at risk developing PEM as they are not breastfed and the food consumed maynot fuilfill the nutrients need for their progressive growth. Nutritional status of preschool childrenis indirectly associated to the socioeconomic and hygiene status and directly associated to the levelof consumptions and infections. The aims of this research is to analyze the associations betweensocioeconomic factors, hygiene, level of consumptions, and infections with the nutritional statusof preschool children in Gresik District. The result of statistical analysis using the Multiple LinearRegression Test showed that maternal education, knowledge, environmental hygienity and protein energyintake have a significant influence on nutritional status of children,while maternal parenting, URI incidentand diarrhea and family income variables have no significant influence on nutritional status. Early detectionthrough intensification monitoring of toddler growth at posyandu, followed by determination ofnutritional status by village midwife or other health worker. It is a striving for a dynamic food andenvironment where monitoring of critical indicators of resources, availability and access to food andnutrition at all levels of society required.