Hubungan Antara Praktik Pemberian Makan dengan Status Gizi Balita di Wilayah Pesisir

Abstract

Toddlers are a population group undergoing rapid growth and development, making optimal nutritional intake essential. Nutritional problems among toddlers remain a public health challenge, including in Southeast Minahasa Regency, where the prevalence of stunting was 21.9% and wasting was 8.1% based on the 2024 Indonesian Nutritional Status Survey (SSGI). Food intake and feeding practices are important factors influencing the nutritional status of toddlers, as inappropriate feeding practices that do not meet children's nutritional needs may increase the risk of both undernutrition and overnutrition. This quantitative study employed an analytic observational design with a cross-sectional approach. The study was conducted in three coastal villages of Belang District involving 55 children aged 6–59 months selected using a total sampling technique. Feeding practices were assessed using the Child Feeding Questionnaire (CFQ), while nutritional status was determined using Weight-for-Age (WAZ) and Weight-for-Length/Height (WHZ) indices according to WHO standards. Data were analyzed using univariate and bivariate analyses. Bivariate analysis was performed using the Pearson correlation test after confirming data normality through a normality test. Most mothers applied appropriate feeding practices (83.6%). The prevalence of underweight (WAZ) was 21.8% (7.3% severely underweight; 14.5% underweight) and wasting (WHZ) was 16.4% (5.5% severely wasted; 10.9% wasted). Pearson correlation test showed a significant positive relationship with moderate strength between feeding practices and WAZ nutritional status (r = 0.396; p = 0.003). Likewise, there was a significant positive relationship with weak strength between feeding practices and WHZ nutritional status (r = 0.294; p = 0.029). There is a significant relationship between feeding practices and toddler nutritional status based on both WAZ and WHZ indices in the coastal area of Belang District.