Effect of community-based food supplementation on improving growth of underweight children under five years of age in West Nusa Tenggara
Abstract: The prevalence of
underweight children in West Nusa Tenggara is as high as 30%. This region had
the third largest number of stunted children in the country. The local
government has attempted to tackle this problem by providing supplementary food
to underweight children.
Objective To assess the success of the community-based food
supplementation program onimproving children’s growth in West Nusa Tenggara.
Methods We conducted a prospective cohort study for 10 months in Paruga
District Primary Health Care Unit, Bima, West Nusa Tenggara, in year 2012.
Children were given supplementary food according to the Ministry of Health’s
guidelines, consisting of formula milk, high calorie biscuits, and a 60-day
supply of eggs, estimated to be sufficient to normalize their weights, for
their age and sex. A child’s weight and
height were measured every 3 months and the results plotted on WHO growth
charts for weight-for-age, height-for-age, and weight-for-height (nutritional
status). Z-score <-3 SD was classified as severely underweight, severely
stunted, or severely wasted, respectively; Z-score between -2 and -3 SD was
classified as underweight, stunted, or wasted, respectively; and Z–score >-2
SD was classified as normal for all three categories.
Results Twenty-five children under five years of age participated in this
study. Subjects’ median age was 29 months. None of the subjects had normal
weight-for-age Z-score at the beginning of the study. Eighty-four percent
(21/25) of the subjects were severely underweight. Only 8% (2/25) of the
subjects had normal height-for-age Z-score and 88% (22/25) of them were
severely stunted. However, 80% (20/25) of subjects had normal nutritional
status (weight-for-height). Changes in weight-for-age Z-score varied throughout
the study. The highest median score was in the tenth month of follow up
(-3.82). The highest median height-for-age score and weight-for-height score
were also in the last month of follow up. At the end of the study, only one
subject had normal weight-for-age score (4%) and none of the subjects had
normal height-for-age scores.
Conclusion The 10-month supplementary food program for under-five
children in the Paruga District is not successful in improving body weight and
height.
Keywords: under-five children;
stunting; nutritional status; community
Author: Aman Bhakti Pulungan,
Dini A. Mirasanti
Journal Code: jpkedokterangg170209
