Household Food Insecurity, Level of Nutritional Adequacy, and Nutritional Status of Toddlers in the Coastal Area of Central Tapanuli Regency

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The food security and livestock service office of North Sumatra Province (2020) noted that almost a third of the area or 35% of the subdistricts in Central Tapanuli Regency are food-insecure areas. AIM: This study aims to determine the level of family food insecurity, the level of nutritional adequacy, and the nutritional status of children under 5 in the coastal area of Central Tapanuli Regency. METHODS: This research is part of a dissertation study entitled Positive Deviance in Household Food Insecure in Improving the Nutritional Status of Toddlers in the Coastal Area of Central Tapanuli Regency. The steps in this research are to identify the level of household food insecurity, level of nutritional adequacy, and nutritional status of children under 5. The research was conducted by interviewing respondents (mothers of toddlers) and taking anthropometric measurements of 59 children under 5 purposively in the coastal area of Central Tapanuli Regency. RESULTS: Most of the occupations of the head of the family are fishers (78.0%) and the household food insecurity status as much as 81.4% is food insecure. The nutritional status of children under 5 in the less category is 50.8%, the nutritional status of stunting is 35.6%, and wasting is 10.2%. There is a significant relationship between family food insecurity and the level of adequacy of nutrients: Energy (p = 0.000; odds ratio [OR] = 38.000) and protein (p = 0.002; OR = 10.929). There is a significant relationship between household food insecurity and nutritional status of weight for age (p = 0.0039; OR = 6.300). CONCLUSION: Household food insecurity is related to the level of nutritional adequacy (energy and protein) and nutritional status of weight for age.