Detail Cantuman

ICSDH 2023 - The International Conference on Social Determinants of Health
DOI: 10.5220/0012901500004564

Breastmilk is the best food for babies. However, when babies reach 6 months of age, breastmilk alone is
insufficient to meet their nutritional needs. To address these requirements, breastmilk feeding should be
supplemented with appropriate complementary feeding. The more diverse the food provided, the better it can
reduce the risk of undernutrition. Hence, this study aims to assess the dietary diversity of complementary
feeding in an area designated as a priority for reducing stunting. The study is conducted in Srikamulyan
Village, Tirtajaya Sub-district, Karawang, using a cross-sectional design. Dietary diversity is evaluated using
9 food groups based on repeated 24-hour food recalls. Approximately 100 children under the age of two,
ranging from 6 to 23 months old, participated in the study. The study's findings reveal that 52% of the subjects
consume diverse foods (≥4 food groups). All of the children include staple foods in their diet. The most
commonly consumed foods after staple foods are meat and fish (71%) and green leafy vegetables (63%). The
highest proportion of children achieved a dietary diversity score of 6. However, the study did not find a
significant relationship between dietary diversity and nutritional status (weight for age and length for age),
with a p-value >0.05. Based on the study, it is clear that there are caregivers who do not provide varied meals
to children. Although a significant relationship is not established, offering a variety of food groups can
establish a strong foundation for the food habits of children in the future. The foods provided as
complementary feeding can help children become familiar with different tastes and nutritious options.